Farmworker / Laborer

Job description

PRUNING: Pruning numerous varieties of apple trees according to established company procedures based on the difference in the treatment of different varieties. Work will be performed on trees for long periods of time using a variety of pruning equipment including hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws, and 12-foot ladders. Pruning and thinning may be done from the ground or a ladder up to 12 feet in height or from a motorized platform. Workers may be required to selectively prune only trees of a certain size and color as instructed by the crew boss

THINNING: Thinning is a manual process used to control the size and quality of grown fruit. Must possess ability to pick up, handle a 10-foot orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. This process requires the employee to remove, in some cases not limited to the smallest fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Workers will be expected to be able to identify and remove fruit that is misshapen, damaged and/or with other quality problems as directed by supervisors.

TRAINING: Training is a process in which the fruit tree is manipulated to increase yield and/or quality. The Worker must possess ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Training may be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or ladder. Some example training tasks are but not limited to:

Tying, taping or clipping apple limbs to wires.
Tying up or down apple limbs.
Training and limb positioning of apple trees.
Shoot thinning, sucker removal, cluster thinning, shoot positioning, hedging, or leaf removal.
Propping and supporting apple trees.

The Worker is expected to possess or acquire pruning skills in order to identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches which rub against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots/suckers with hand pruning saws and clippers, mechanized equipment in pruning activities.

See Addendum C

Special Requirements

This job requires 3 months of tree fruit training, pruning, and thinning Apples by the worker.

There are general conditions of employment, general job specifications, and individual requirements that are specific to each job duty:

GENERAL CONDITIONS: Fieldwork begins at an assigned time shortly after daylight. Work may be performed during light rain and in high humidity and in freezing or high heat temperatures. The worker may be required to work in the orchard when trees are wet with dew/rain and should have suitable clothing for variable weather conditions.