Vineyard Farmworker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
wine grapes.
Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Performs a variety of tasks under supervision in vineyard/winery operation. Primary tasks are grape production and agricultural activities, including planting and cultivating vines and harvesting grapes. Performs vineyard canopy management to permit light and air to circulate around grapevines, including thinning fruit and removing current season suckers. Performs vineyard maintenance activities, such as weed control with mowers and chemicals. Sprays vines and fruit with herbicides, pesticides and fungicides. Installs and maintains vine trellises and ties vines to trellises. Installs and maintains bird netting. May load and unload trucks, install irrigation equipment and clean equipment. Assists in moving harvested fruit from field to processing area. May perform general indoor tasks or post-harvest activities (e.g., packing or moving products to storage at winery facility) when outdoor vineyard work is not available (all such activities will be performed incident to or in conjunction with vineyard operation).

Workers must be prepared to work outdoors in cold weather. Work will take place when the temperatures exceed 10 degrees F. unless the wind chill factor is +10 degrees F. or colder. Workers will be expected to work in light snow. Workers should be able to work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Workers will assist in loading trucks with product weighing up to and including 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers’ ability to perform the job. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs.

Work may also include mechanized field work using power equipment. By way of example and not limitation power equipment may include tractors, planters, sprayers, cultivators and other equipment. Workers will be expected to be able to operate agricultural equipment with or without direction.

Employer requires all newly hired employees to take and pass an employer-paid background check. All background checks are conducted uniformly after an initial job offer has been extended and accepted by the new hire. Applicants found to have felony convictions (including, but not limited to assault, child molestation, sex or drug-related convictions) may be terminated out of concern for general public safety, and paid for all hours worked between the first date of employment and the date of termination, if any. In the case of a foreign worker who is terminated for cause resulting from findings of the background check, the employer will arrange least-cost transportation to the worker's place of recruitment, at the worker's expense.

Employer assures that workers will be provided transportation from living quarters to work site every day (for workers who must be provided housing under the applicable regulations).

Persons seeking employment as vineyard farmworker must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Successful applicants will be subject to a trial period of up to five days during which their performance of required tasks will be evaluated. If the performance during the trial period is not acceptable to the employer the worker's employment will be terminated.

Special Requirements

Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer requires all newly hired employees to take and pass an employer-paid background check. All background checks are conducted uniformly after an initial job offer has been extended and accepted by the new hire.