Field Workers: Berries Machine & Ground Harvest

Job description

H-2A and corresponding domestic workers must be available to perform each of the following job activities in connection with the harvesting and farming operations:

Field Workers to perform the following duties:

Berries machine & ground harvest, transplanting, planting, plant pruning, runner cutting, spacing, trellising, cleaning, general ranch maintenance, general farm labor, hoeing & hand weeding (long-handled hoe), shovel work, bird net installation, truck loading, box assembly, loading, sucker removal, pot filling, container irrigation, cart/plant loading, stacker/packer, plant preparation & packing for shipping, plant loading/unloading, plant transplanting, plant spacing, plant dumping, boxing for shipping, cutting sticking, row boss, bench moving, irrigation assembly & installation, plant harvesting, machine operator, forklift driver, tractor driver, time keeper, puncher/QC, loader, other support labor, CalVan drivers, prepare freshly harvested crop for shipment, Field Safety/Food Safety activities, sanitization activities, and health/wellness monitor. All activities are conducted in the field.

Workers will also perform duties associated with and directly related to strawberry, blueberry, blackberry harvest work, including but not limited to picking and berries in the field for fresh market and freezing/juicing; Prepare freshly harvested crop for shipment; Distinguish quality and ripeness; Pick, and place in tray / packing containers in the field. Strawberry, blueberry, blackberry ground/table crews will not use a machine aid. Pickers will work on a strawberry, raspberry picker machine to aid harvest; working in rows, the worker bends over and picks berries with hands; places the berries 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, raspberry ground/table crews will not use a machine aid; working in rows, the worker bends over and picks berries with hands; places the berries in a box; walks and carries the box with berries to the packing table located at the end of the row in the field. The worker returns to the row to continue ground harvest.

Support Labor:

Loader/Stacker: Primary job is to remove the full/filled boxes (flats) from the machine belt and stack in a pallet. The worker is responsible that all boxes are well stacked and ensures there are enough empty boxes (flats) ready in the machine belt, so the pickers have access to them.

Time Keeper: Time Keeper person at the start and end of the work day scans the employee’s ID badge to record their start time and end time. The worker is also responsible for scanning the full/filled boxes to ensure they are accounted for.

QC Checker: Quality control person makes sure that product meets standards of quality. The worker examines and weighs product baskets to be of the weight and quality required. Some quality control inspections are routine and quick, others are more complex and lengthier. Quality control person may be responsible for declaring that a product (basket) is not below the specified quality. Quality control person may also inspect that a picker is not leaving good product in the furrow or are putting incorrect/bad product in baskets. They may make recommendations for improvements.

Machine Operator:

Mercado: Under the direction of the field supervisor, the worker controls the machine by holding the latch and aligning the spindle to the desired direction. Speed is controlled by a handheld remote. The worker lowers the harvest boxes to pallets. Fills up machine with unfilled boxes to supply harvesting crew. The worker is also responsible for inspecting and sanitizing the machine. When the worker is not doing any of these functions, the worker is also harvesting product.

Special Requirements

Workers must stand, sit, crouch, bend, reach, lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds in the course of performing required activities. Workers must be able to listen, understand, and follow instructions of company supervisors and managers.

The company's Employment Arbitration Agreement is set forth in this Clearance Order outlining the procedures to follow in raising concerns to seek their prompt resolution with an option to arbitrate unresolved matters.