Farmworkers And Laborers, Crop

Job description

Harvesting and Field Operations (Primary Duties)
Workers will perform manual labor to harvest watermelons by walking through field rows, identifying ripe fruit, and using a small knife to hand-cut watermelons from the vine. After cutting, workers will turn the watermelons to prepare them for loading. Working in coordinated teams, workers will bend, lift, and handle watermelons weighing between 20 and 60 pounds. Workers will transfer harvested watermelons through a coordinated “pitching” or hand-to-hand tossing process until the fruit reaches a teammate positioned inside a transport vehicle (bus or trailer), where watermelons will be carefully stacked for transport.
On-Farm Packing House Operations (Primary Duties)
Once transport vehicles are full, they will be moved to the on-farm packing house, which is located on the employer’s property and processes more than 50 percent of the employer’s own crop. Workers will manually unload watermelons from transport vehicles and place them onto conveyor belts for movement into the facility. Inside the packing house, workers will sort watermelons by size, apply labels, and pack the fruit into bins or containers for final shipment.
Incidental Equipment Operation (Secondary)
As an incidental duty, workers may occasionally assist with the basic operation of agricultural equipment, such as forklifts or farm transport vehicles, solely within the boundaries of the farm property. This equipment operation will be infrequent, non-specialized, and performed only after employer-provided instruction. It is not a primary function of the job.
General Maintenance and Incidental Tasks
During periods of inclement weather, reduced harvest activity, or for workers on physical work restrictions, workers will perform general clean-up and incidental maintenance. Duties include clearing debris, weeds, and vines; removing plastic mulch or ground covers; pruning, painting, or sprouting trees; and performing general cleaning or minor, incidental repairs to farm structures, irrigation lines, and worker housing.

Workers must be able to perform strenuous manual labor outdoors in all weather conditions, including heat, cold, and rain, for a minimum of six (6) hours per day. The position requires physical strength and endurance to bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods, as well as manual dexterity to repetitively use hands at a sustained pace to meet production standards. This is a fundamental entry-level position; the employer will provide on-the-job training and all necessary tools and equipment at no charge to the worker. Consistent with applicable law, the employer may recover the reasonable cost of repair or replacement of tools if damage results from the worker’s willful misconduct or gross negligence, following written authorization. At its sole discretion, the employer may pay a higher wage rate based on individual performance or tenure, which does not alter the entry-level requirements of this position.

Special Requirements

This type of work, involves working conditions that require tremendous stamina, a high level of physical activity in cold or extremely hot conditions in direct sunlight and in adverse weather such as rain. The work requires a high level of physical conditioning.