Field Worker (wine Grapes)

Job description

Field Workers to perform the following duties:

Vineyard Work:
• Suckering by hand – removal of any extra unwanted shoots on cordons/canes, trunks, removal of any short canes and shoots from the cordon/cane
• Hand Pruning: Pruning with Shears by hand.
• Hand Tying: Tying by hand with or cordons.
• Canopy management by hand – moving wires to position shoots within the trellis system to maintain a vertical growing grapevine
• Leafing and lateral removal by hand – removing leaves from the fruit zone during the growing season; removing lateral growth from the canes within the fruit zone and growing canopy
• Weed control by hand – using mechanical string trimmer for weed abatement and or a shovel (long-handled) to cut weeds from under the vines and for weed control around slopes of vineyards and along adjacent roads
• Crop thinning by hand – removal of clusters during specific times of year to enhance fruit quality
• Irrigation - check the irrigation lines and repair any leaks
• Property Maintenance - clean up trash, downed limbs of trees, water line maintenance and repair/install fence
• Tractor Driving - drive tractors provided by grower to cultivate the soil, mow, harvest, and apply seed, compost and pesticides
• • Bird Control - apply and remove bird netting, which covers the vines, on the farm by walking and lifting
• Planting vines -– using a shovel, vines will be planted
• Erosion Control -– apply erosion prevention materials and repair roads, inside and bordering the vineyard, on the farm, and soil after rain events using a tractor or shovel

Vineyard (Wine grape) Harvest:
Work in grape vineyards all season through harvest, including the wine-grape harvest work of cutting grape bunches off of grape vines and into a tub/lug, then the tub/lug then dumped into a bin/gondola. Other incidental harvest work includes weed control and property maintenance in the vineyard, leaf removal, suckering, crop thinning, hedging, tally sheet recording, and picking with a machine harvester. Use sharp picking shears, standing and kneeling on ground to pick fruit. General, non-harvest, vineyard work including the preparing the soil, erecting trellis and irrigation equipment, repairing trellis and irrigation equipment, pruning and training vines, lifting and lowering catch wires, positioning shoots, applying and removing bird netting, and controlling pests/diseases with regular spraying and trapping. Daily work requires lifting, bending, kneeling, walking and carrying up to 50 pound trays. Work in cold, hot, windy and damp weather. Work hours vary and night shifts may be required.
Works as a member of a crew, or individually performing moderately complex tasks. Use standard tools such as rakes, hoes and shovels.
Workers may occasionally and/or sporadically perform duties associated with and directly related to wine grape vineyard and harvest work including but not limited to packing, closing/stacking boxes in and around the vineyard, and clean-up functions in and around the vineyard. Such work will be temporary and insubstantial agricultural labor.
The workers will not be using a hoe, neither a long-handled hoe (longer than 6 feet) nor a short-handled hoe (shorter than 4 feet). For the task of weed control, the workers will primarily use weed eaters and shovels. As the weed eaters are 6 feet long, the workers will not be using the weed eaters in a stooped, kneeling, or squatting position.

Special Requirements

1 month of experience working with wine grapes including harvest. 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. Workers should come prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear for the environmental and working conditions described.