Farmworkers & Ag Equipment Operators

Job description

Workers will perform assign duties as instructed by their supervisor. Agriculture Equipment Operator to operate equipment used to harvest crops. Must have the correct type of license required by State and Federals laws, and Class O drivers license responsible for transporting workers will be required to have a valid and unexpired Federal Farm Labor Contractor or Federal Farm Labor Contractor Employee Registration
with driving authorization. Will be responsible for operating the vehicles used to move crops on the farm. Must be able to safely operate the buses that are used to transport workers to and from work sites. Operate forklifts and equipment used to move supplies and harvesting equipment in the field. Maintain harvest equipment. Must be able to reach, bend and lift items weighing 75 pounds, lifting anything over 75lbs will be performed as a team effort. The alternative work if needed will be to assist with the manual harvest of the blueberries.

Workers will manually harvest blueberries by walking field rows and using a one-gallon canvas picking bucket with a shoulder strap for support. The worker will transport the bucket from the field truck to the designated harvest area, position themselves at the tree, and carefully remove fruit by hand to avoid breaking limbs or damaging the tree. Once full, the worker will carry the bucket to the end of the row and unload the fruit into tubs or containers for processing. As directed, workers will also perform basic packing tasks, including manually sorting fruit to remove debris, placing berries into containers, and stacking finished units onto pallets.

When harvesting is unavailable or as needed, workers will perform general maintenance and clean-up of the work site, structures, and worker housing. These activities include sprouting, pruning, and painting trees; removing debris, weeds, and vines; repairing irrigation; and cleaning or repairing farm structures. Additionally, as an incidental and secondary duty, workers may occasionally assist with the basic operation of agricultural equipment, such as forklifts or farm transport vehicles, solely within farm boundaries. This equipment operation is infrequent, non-specialized, and performed only after employer-provided instruction.

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. The employer will provide 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 after the damage has occurred and after gaining the employee's written authorization to make the deduction. 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. A drivers' licenses and Farm Labor Contractor Certificate with Driving authorizations as required by local, state, and federal laws and regulations.