Field Workers, Citrus Shed, Citrus Forklift Drivers

Job description

Field Workers (Citrus, Dates, and Olives), Citrus Shed, and Citrus Forklift Drivers

Heavy labor of harvesting Citrus, Olives and Dates as per color and size requirements. Climbing regular and 3-point ladder as needed to pick fruit. Employees will be using proper shears for picking citrus. Cutting, not pulling, the citrus with hand shear; Putting fruit into bag sack, which is carried on the front of the body, with straps around the shoulder and back for support. Sack full of fruit can weigh up to 50 lbs. The sack is then emptied into bin in a manner instructed by supervisor. This is repeated until the bin is full. Employees will need to walk around the tree, under the tree, and inside the tree and from a ladder to pick the appropriate fruit. Employees will be wearing safety protection, hard hats, gloves, protective sleeves, knee pads, and eye protection. Employees will be pruning and hoeing citrus, date, and olive trees, using both hands pruning shears, pruning loppers and long handled hoes. Employees will be expected to follow the direction and techniques specific to various trees from the supervisor. Employees will be planting citrus. Start times vary depending on the weather (fog or heavy dew). Fruit cannot be picked until it is dry on the outside of the fruit. Performs maintenance in and around the ranch such as cleaning and repairing irrigation canals, weeding, and thinning with a long handle hoe around trees and irrigation valves, and trash removal.

Tree Work – All tree (Citrus, Date Palms/Olive Trees) work & harvest requires either working from the ground while standing or walking on uneven ground or working from a basket/platform that is raised by a forklift or reach lift that will be raised off the ground that could be as high as 55 feet off the ground. Employees in basket/platform are required to wear safety harnesses.

Specific to Date Palms - De-thorn job is done by removing thorns from palms with curved knife while standing on the ground or in a raised platform, by moving the knife along the edges of the frond removing the thorns.

Special Requirements

Must have 1 month work experience working in citrus or dates field work as defined in this application. Written verification required. Specific requirements include lifting to 50 pounds frequently and able to use hand tools, including cutting knives, shears, and long handled hoes. Cannot be color blind due to the need to distinguish colors of crops. Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc.