Orchard Worker

Job description

Picking apples for the fresh market. Quality is essential. Ladders ranging from 14 ft. to 20 ft. in length and weighing from 35 to 50 lbs. each are used. Care must be taken when picking fruit not to damage or bruise fruit. Properly filled fruit buckets weigh up to 40 lbs. Pickers are required to snap fruit off of tree using their thumb and palm of hand to avoid bruising. Each piece of fruit must be carefully placed in bucket to avoid bruising. Foreman or owner will give demonstrations of how the fruit must be picked; picking requirements will be explained to all workers prior to the season's start. The employer has established a picking bruise standard to which all pickers must adhere as follows: A roving inspector paid for by the employer selects random samples from bins. Apples will be graded and scored for amount of bruises and amount of spurs/trash in the bin. Scoring is according to USDA standards for US Fancy grade or better. Standards are explained and demonstrated to all workers prior to season's start. Inspectors review the results of the inspection immediately with the supervisor. Workers must be able to keep pace with the balance of the crew, maintaining productivity at a minimum of 14 3/4 bushel bag dumps per hour during harvest. Failure to comply with operating, pesticide protection and safety standards may result in termination.

Fruit Packing
Grade and pack fruit by hand or with mechanized packing equipment, including but not limited to bagging machines, bin feeding machines, box machines, labeling machines, regular and high stacking forklifts. Sort graded fruit in appropriate containers according to packing instructions. Deliver pallets of finished product to cold storage. Workers will be expected to perform basic duties in a timely and proficient manner without close supervision. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive standing.

Load / Unload Product
Prepare orders for shipping. Keep material and product records accurately. Workers will be expected to perform basic duties in a timely and proficient manner without close supervision.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable prior agricultural employment experience working in a tree fruit orchard performing manual and mechanical tasks associated with production and harvest or packing house activities. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs.