Field Workers: Blackberry Harvesters

Job description

The work is performed in the field on the farm.

Each blackberry harvester is given 7 plastic containers, 6 containers are for harvesting fresh fruit and 1 container is for rotten fruit. The containers are hung around the waist. Harvesters will walk through the furrow and pick facing the vine. They tend to walk laterally up and down the furrow picking from plants that are from two (2) to six (6) feet high. They will fill the six (6) plastic containers and hang them from the tread when full. The full container carries approximately three (3) pounds of blackberries. When the six (6) plastic containers are full they are taken to the end of the furrow where each harvester has a small bench from 28” to 31” high and weighing about seven (7) to nine (9) pounds. Harvesters will pour and sort the blackberries from the plastic containers into clamshells that fit inside a cardboard box. When three (3) to four (4) crates are full, they weigh about 15 to 20 pounds and are carried 35-75 yards to a trailer where the puncher or crew leader will check for quality. Harvesters will need to carry the bench, belt and picking containers for an average of 200 yards once per day.

Once this is done the employee proceeds to obtain other empty boxes and repeats the process.

Employees will follow instructions from supervisors on the employer's agricultural methods and practices, use common equipment and tools to successfully perform the work, and help others as part of a work crew. Work performed by these employees is closely monitored, tracked, and assessed for quality, accuracy, and production results.

Special Requirements

Two (2) months of experience performing work related to harvesting blackberries.

Experience to be confirmed though written employment verification letters on company letterhead or by the provision of the name and address or telephone number of the reference who can verify the workers experience. The assistance of the referring office in helping the worker provide this information will be appreciated.

Cannot be color blind due to the need to distinguish colors of crops for proper ripeness and maturity. No smoking, illegal drugs, alcohol, or weapons of any sort in the housing or work fields. Ability to communicate in English or Spanish is required for training and safety purposes. Work is performed outdoors in open fields and can involve exposure to sun, wind, mud, dust, heat, cold and other elements of the normal field environment.