Farm Workers

Job description

Perform manual labor to harvest Vidalia onions by picking up onions, clipping top and roots using shears, placing in bucket, walking to bin and dumping bucket into bin. Workers will also manually grade and pack Vidalia onions. Workers will transport onions according to supervisors instructions. For mechanical harvesting, workers will ride on top of harvester, grade onions and clear out debris. Use hand tools such as shovels and shears. Weed crops. Clean, count, check, and pack products. Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow, and cultivate crops. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell and quality to ensure correct processing and usage. Discard inferior or defective products and/or foreign matter, and place acceptable products in containers for further processing. Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel. Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers. Record grade and/or identification numbers on tags or on shipping, receiving, or sales sheets. Measure, weigh and count products and materials. Examine and inspect containers, materials and products to ensure that packing specifications are met. Record product, packaging and order information on specified forms and records. Remove completed or defective products, placing them on conveyors or in specified areas such as loading docks. Load materials and products into package processing equipment. Assemble crates and containers using hand tools. Clean containers, materials, supplies, or work areas using cleaning solutions and hand tools. Transport packages to customers vehicles. Assist with Good Agricultural Practices policies.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a workers ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a workers Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

Workers should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer's control. These periods can occur anytime throughout the season. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and different tasks on different days.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a two day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the introductory period if the workers performance fails to satisfy the employers reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable. Employer may terminate a worker for lawful job-related reasons, including but not limited to situations in which the worker: (1) Is repeatedly absent or tardy; (2) malingers or otherwise refuses, without cause, to perform the work as directed; (3) commits act(s) of misconduct or repeatedly violates the Work Rules; and/or (4) fails, after completing the two day introductory period, to perform work in a competent and skillful manner, consistent with the employer's reasonable expectations.

Special Requirements

Three months of verifiable commercial vegetable farm work experience is required. Lift, carry and load 60 lb buckets of onions into bin or onto conveyor belt, perform prolonged walking, sitting, pushing, pulling, bending and reaching and work outside in extremely hot and/or wet weather. Repetitive movements. Employer is a drug-free workplace. Drug testing is conducted post hire at the employers expense and is not part of the interview process. Negative results are required before starting work.