Farm Workers

Job description

Plant, transplant, cultivate, harvest, grade and pack squash, beans, sweet corn, cantaloupe, watermelons, broccoli, and cauliflower by hand or machine.

Pre-harvest activities for berries may include staking, tying, planting, transplanting and pruning. Remove weeds from around the plants and from the row middles. Walk through assigned row while bending and reaching to pick ripe fruit by hand without bruising or damaging the fruit or bush. Pick fully ripe fruit; discard any deformed, decayed or undersized berries according to supervisor’s instructions. Carefully remove any undesirable fruit from plant that would later cause fungi to attack the plant.

Pre-harvest activities for watermelons and cantaloupe include preparing the plastic for planting plugs. Workers must be careful not to damage young plugs. Workers will walk along rows and cut melons according to size, color, shape and degree of maturity using a knife. After harvesting is completed remove vines from plastic and prepare the plastic for the next planting cycle. Remove old or damaged plastic and drip irrigation tape along with any other trash, rocks or debris from the planting area. Dig ditches and assist in preparation of field areas prior to installation of new plastic and drip tape.

Walk through assigned row while bending and reaching to harvest squash, broccoli, cauliflower, and beans using a knife, making sure that plant is picked clean of correct size and maturity.

Walk rows while bending and reaching to harvest mature ears of corn, pulling off the stalk carefully selecting ears of corn of correct size and maturity, avoiding ears with discolored husks, unacceptable shanks, or visible worm damage.

Transplant crops by either riding on the back of a transplanter and feeding transplants carefully through fingers of the transplanter that places the plant into the ground and covers the root of the plant with soil, or by walking and carrying trays through assigned rows in the field while bending and stooping to carefully place the transplants into pre-dug holes and covering roots with soil.

Grade and pack products according to supervisor’s instructions in the field, on assembly line in packing house, or on a mule train. Grade products by size, weight, color, or condition. Discard inferior or defective products or foreign matter. Place acceptable products in specified containers. Assemble cartons, crates, and containers using hand tools. Stack boxes onto pallets, transport vehicles, or trailers.

Plant, cultivate, and harvest a variety of sod and grass. Assist in soil preparation, including removing rocks, roots, limbs, stumps, trees, and other debris. Operate tractors, mowers and specialized agricultural equipment to plant, cultivate, mow, harvest, and palletize sod. Lift, carry, load and stack onto pallets by hand or machine.

Manually lay and/or remove plastic and/or drip tape. Count, load, and unload products and/or materials. Clean and maintain containers, materials, supplies, and work areas. Clean around farm and buildings including pulling weeds and raking. Prune and thin bushes according to supervisor’s instructions. Participate in irrigation activities. Install, set up, and operate irrigation equipment. Remove stakes and string. Operate, repair, clean and maintain farm equipment and vehicles. Workers who apply for and obtain an FLC or FLC employee certificate of registration with driving authorized by the USDOL Wage and Hour Division during the employment period may transport workers and be offered additional work hours. Assist with Good Agricultural Practices policies.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker’s ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer.

Special Requirements

Two months verifiable farm work experience required. Work in extremely hot, cold and/or wet conditions. Walk, bend, sit, reach, stoop, stand, push/pull, perform repetitive movements, and lift and carry 50 pounds. Drug testing is conducted post-hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process.