Field Workers (wine Grapes)

Job description

Please note that the Employer will require a total of forty-two (42) H-2A workers under this contract. Of these, fifteen (15) H-2A workers will commence employment approximately on January 12, 2026, and the remaining twenty-seven (27) H-2A workers will commence employment approximately on May 4, 2026. The number of workers and dates of staggered entry may change lightly due to weather, consulate availability, and domestic worker availability.

Field Worker (Wine Grapes):

Duties vary depending on the growing season:

Work in grape vineyards during the spring (January 2026 through March 2026) will include hoeing (long handled hoe) and pruning and tying, frost maintenance and repair.

Work in grape vineyards (approximately mid-March 2026 through May 2026) will include weed removal, planting, training, shoot positioning and vine suckering.

Work in grape vineyards during the summer season (approximately June 2026 through July2026) will include planting, training, shoot positioning , vine suckering. leaf removal. Working on trellis, raking, vineyard clean up and post pounding. Harvest activities include using sharp picking knives, standing, and kneeling on the ground to pick fruit. Employer abides by the California rules applicable to hand weeding.

Non-harvest related activities (approximately August 2026 through mid-September 2026) will include early season crop thinning, wire moving and shoot positioning, root picking, irrigation and irrigation maintenance, canopy management, shoveling, trellis maintenance and replacement.

Work in grape vineyards during harvest season (approximately mid-September 2026 through the end) will include picking wine grapes and activities directly related to winegrape picking including such as stacking and washing of lugs and bins, leaf removal and sorting fruit.

Non-harvest related activities continue during the harvest season but are not directly related to wine grape picking and include fence repair, trellis repair, trellis maintenance and repair, drainage, field gutters, plant new vineyard including digging, raking, clean up and post pounding.

Tractor Driver:
Tractor drivers will drive and control tractors in fields. Tractors have a capacity of under 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). Commercial drivers' license not required to drive tractors. Tractor Driver: Tractor drivers will drive and control tractors and forklifts in fields, at loading areas and crush pad.

Additional Vineyard Work duties throughout the season (Less than 50% of workdays in contract), fungicide application with backpack and/or tractor sprayer; Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers. and herbicide application with hand sprayer. Apply chemical solutions to plants to protect against disease or insects or to enhance growth.

Special Requirements

3 months of experience working with wine grapes is required. Specific requirements include lifting up to 50 pounds frequently and being able to use hand tools, including cutting knives. Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc. Must be able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions, including rain, cold, high winds, etc. Work involves frequent bending and working in bent or stooped positions. Must be able to walk and stand up extensively. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in the field or residential housing.