Farmworker/laborer

Job description

GENERAL FARM LABOR:
Thinning: Thinning is a manual process used to control the size and quality of grown fruit. Worker must possess ability to pick up and handle an 18 foot orchard ladder weighing 50 pounds. Worker will remove the smallest fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Workers will be expected to be able to identify and remove fruit that is misshapen, damaged and/or with other quality problems as directed by supervisors. Thinning may be done from the ground or a ladder up to 16 feet in height or from a motorized platform.

Pruning: Pruning numerous varieties of fruit trees & vines according to established company procedures based on the difference in the treatment of different varieties. Worker will perform pruning on trees for long periods of time using a variety of pruning equipment including hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws, chainsaws, and 18-foot ladders. Pruning and thinning may be done from the ground or a ladder up to 16 feet in height or from a motorized platform or trimming tower. Workers may be required to selectively prune only trees of a certain size and color as instructed by supervisors.

Worker must possess or acquire pruning skills in order to identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches which rub against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots/suckers. Workers will both hand prune and machine prune.

Other Job Specifications Include:

1. Worker will hand thin fruit trees to ensure proper fruit load on tree.

2. Worker will prune and train and position fruit trees sometimes to trellis, including clipping and tying limbs and shoots to wire from the ground or ladder up to 18 feet in height, or from a motorized platform.

3. Worker will complete farm clean up tasks to include picking up garbage around the orchard, picking up roots and rocks, removing old string and wire from trellis and orchard blocks, and other hand tasks.

4. Worker will complete landscaping maintenance along perimeter and throughout farm, including trimming brush and tree limbs.

5. Worker will paint tree trunks and posts with glove-like mitt or paint sponge.

6. Worker will weed and hoe in farm areas as directed by supervisor.

7. Worker will stake as instructed by supervisor.

8. Worker will plant and complete other hand tasks to establish and maintain orchard and vegetable crop areas, including shoveling, picking up roots and rocks.

9. Worker will safely drive platform and other mechanized pruning equipment.

10. Workers will be required to cut irrigation line at end of row as instructed and hook up line to main water line and fix leaks as directed by supervisor.

11. Worker will help with all phases of planting trees (plant, stomping in, prune, install tree guards).

12. Worker will help with all phases of trellis work, including handling posts 8-14 feet in length, pulling wire off reel, nailing staples to posts, threading wire, anchoring and tensioning wire. Worker will also help attach steaks to wires and attach tree to stake with bands as instructed by supervisor.

13. Worker will organize, clean and sanitize harvest tools, equipment and containers, as directed by a supervisor.

14. Repair farm buildings, fences, and other structures.

15. Workers may operate tractors and tractor-pulled mechanized pruning equipment, including hedging/sickle bar implements, and perform general field preparation tasks.

Pay will be hourly.

Other duties assigned under this order will be consistent under Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupational Classification: Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery and Greenhouse Workers (45-2092)

Special Requirements

Experience Requirement: 2 month(s) verifiable experience in commercial tree fruit hand harvest experience required. Applicants must furnish job references from employers of the last 5 years establishing acceptable prior experience.
Job requires worker to complete tasks in general farm labor, pruning, and thinning. Employer will provide instructions and training on specific job duties.
Season Commitment: Job offered requires worker be available for work for entire employment period.

Drug testing done at employers expense and not utilized as a pre-employment tool.