Field Worker (strawberry Harvest)

Job description

Field Worker (Strawberry Harvest) to perform the following duties:

Strawberry harvesting and packaging, box assembly, truck loading, plant preparation, packing, harvesting, pot filling, transplanting, container irrigation, spacing, trellising, tying, plant pruning, general maintenance, cleaning, hoeing and weeding (long-handled), plant dumping, bird net installation, irrigation assembly, drip installation, and groundcover installation. All activities are conducted in the field.

Workers will also perform duties associated with and directly related to strawberry harvest work, including but not limited to picking and packing strawberries in the field for fresh market and freezing/juicing; Distinguish quality and ripeness; Pick and place in tray/packing containers in the field. Strawberry ground/table crews will not use a machine aid. Pickers will work on a strawberry picker machine to aid harvest; working in rows, the worker bends over and picks strawberries with hands; places the strawberries in a box and stacks the full boxes on the machine floor, the top of the machine carries the empty boxes; the worker, therefore, does not carry the full boxes to the end of the row. Strawberry ground/table crews will not use a machine aid; working in rows, the worker bends over and picks strawberries with hands; places the strawberries in a box; walks and carries the box with strawberries to the packing table located at the end of the row in the field. The worker returns to the row to continue ground harvest.

Special Requirements

Minimum Job Qualifications: Three months of experience in berry harvest and general field work in strawberry crop husbandry. Specific requirements include lifting up to 50 pounds frequently and able to use hand tools, including cutting knives. Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc. Must be able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions, including rain, cold, high winds, etc. Work involves frequent bending and working in bent or stooped positions. Must be able to walk and stand up extensively. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in the field or residential housing.
Work is performed in open fields and may involve exposure to mud, dust, wind, heat, cold, and other natural elements. Temperatures can range from 30 degrees Fahrenheit to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the period of employment.