Farmworkers And Laborers, Crop

Job description

Workers will perform assigned duties as described in this clearance order,
Citrus Harvesting: Harvesting citrus fruit by hand under supervisor’s instructions. The worker will place a picking sack over their shoulder and carry an 18’ to 20’ ladder from the field truck to the particular area of the grove to be harvested. The picking sack is a canvas bag equipped with a shoulder strap for support, an opening for the insertion of fruit, and an opening to remove fruit. A fully loaded sack weighs between approximately 80 and 100 pounds, depending upon the size, condition, and variety of fruit. Worker positions the ladder against the tree and within reach of the fruit in a secure, leaning position, taking care not to break limbs, damage the tree, knock off fruit, or interfere with other workers, ensuring a secure position to prevent slipping or falling. Worker will remove fruit from the tree by hand and place it into the picking sack. When the picking sack is full, the worker will transport the full sack to the designated fruit tub or bin.
Planting Citrus Trees: By hand under supervisor’s instructions, planting a tree at a tree space where a tree has been removed (resetting). The worker will clear weeds if needed and dig a hole 3 feet on each side of the removed tree space in line with the other trees in the row. The hole must be approximately 14 inches deep and 5 inches round. Soil removed from the hole must be placed evenly around the perimeter. Worker will evenly sprinkle 1 pound of young tree fertilizer on the soil around the hole, remove the young tree from the citrus pot over the hole, and place the tree in the hole at ground level so the potting mix is even with the surrounding ground. Worker will use their hands to pack the soil mixed with fertilizer firmly around the tree, water the tree roots with 1 gallon or more of water, and place additional soil around the tree roots after watering.
Place pot as sprout inhibitor and tree protector: Worker will notch the bottom of a plastic pot and slip it over the newly planted tree to act as a sprout inhibitor and tree protector. Worker will properly place the micro-sprinkler between the newly planted trees in the reset space. Workers are expected to perform high-quality work, ensuring proper placement and proper tree planting techniques.

General Field Caretaking: Assisting with tree treatments, removal of grove debris, assisting with irrigation line maintenance and repair, and general grove maintenance.

General Farm Maintenance and Other Activities: When primary planting or harvesting work is temporarily unavailable due to weather conditions, crop conditions, operational needs, or other lawful business reasons, workers may be assigned miscellaneous incidental duties directly related to the agricultural operation. These duties will not replace or substantially reduce the availability of primary agricultural work. Such duties may include general clean-up of the worksite, farm property, and agricultural structures; weeding, trimming, digging, cutting, topping, and removal of weeds, vines, debris, and trash from fields and fence lines; routine installation and removal of plastic mulch and irrigation drip tape; and basic irrigation maintenance and minor repair. Field sanitation activities may include cleaning, disinfecting, maintaining, and performing minor upkeep to harvest buckets, bins, trailers, hand tools, and similar agricultural equipment. Workers may also assist with the routine cleaning, washing, and minor non-mechanical upkeep of farm vehicles and equipment. Workers may be required to assist with the basic cleaning and routine upkeep of employer-provided housing and common-use facilities, limited to minor, basic tasks necessary to maintain safe, sanitary, and healthy living conditions.

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.