Greenhouse Worker

Job description

Workers will perform manual labor and routine greenhouse tasks in a climate-controlled hydroponic greenhouse dedicated exclusively to the production of head lettuce. Duties include seeding lettuce into propagation trays using appropriate seeding densities; monitoring germination rates; maintaining proper temperature, humidity, and light conditions for seedling development; and identifying and removing weak or non-viable seedlings. Workers will transplant healthy seedlings into hydroponic grow channels at the correct spacing to promote uniform growth and airflow, ensuring plants are properly seated and roots are correctly positioned within nutrient solution flows.

Workers will conduct daily greenhouse production activities by visually inspecting lettuce for growth progress, uniformity, nutrient deficiencies, disease symptoms, pest presence, or environmental stress. Job duties include adjusting plant spacing as lettuce matures; maintaining cleanliness of hydroponic channels, benches, and support structures; clearing roots or organic buildup from channels; and assisting with routine system sanitation to prevent algae, biofilm, and pathogen development. Workers will support irrigation and fertigation operations by monitoring nutrient solution flow, checking drip emitters or channel flow rates, confirming proper water circulation, and reporting leaks, clogs, or mechanical malfunctions to supervisors.

Harvest duties include hand-harvesting head lettuce at the proper stage of maturity using approved cutting techniques; trimming excess leaves and roots; removing non-marketable or damaged plant material; and placing harvested lettuce into designated harvest totes within the greenhouse. Workers will sanitize knives, totes, trays, tools, and work surfaces according to established food safety and sanitation protocols before, during, and after harvest activities. Cleaning responsibilities also include sweeping and washing greenhouse floors and walkways; removing plant debris, spent roots, and organic waste; cleaning propagation areas; and maintaining an orderly, sanitary work environment consistent with Good Agricultural Practices.

Additional duties include assisting with routine greenhouse maintenance such as cleaning irrigation lines, flushing hydroponic systems, preparing trays and channels for new plantings, monitoring environmental control equipment, and performing general housekeeping tasks. Workers may be required to rotate between seeding, transplanting, harvesting, cleaning, and system-support duties as needed based on crop stage and production schedules. There are few typical days, and workers must be willing to perform various greenhouse-related tasks as assigned depending on crop conditions and operational needs. The employer reserves the right to increase workers’ pay or provide bonuses based on tenure, performance, or other factors at the sole discretion of the employer.

Special Requirements

Work is performed indoors in a greenhouse environment that may be warm, humid, and wet, with exposure to varying temperatures, water, fertilizers, cleaning and sanitizing agents, and plant material. Workers will stand, walk, bend, stoop, reach, kneel, and perform repetitive motions for extended periods, and must be able to lift and carry items such as harvest totes weighing up to approximately 50 pounds. All work will be performed in accordance with established greenhouse procedures, food safety requirements, and applicable agricultural regulations.