Farmworkers

Job description

Perform manual labor to plant, cultivate, harvest, grade and pack blueberries, blackberries, squash, cucumbers, eggplant, cabbage, bell peppers and specialty peppers. Pre-harvest duties include tilling soil, pruning, planting, re-planting, cultivating, weeding, raking, using shears, knives and other various cultivation tools. Walk through assigned row while bending and reaching to pick ripe blueberries by hand without bruising or damaging the fruit or bush. Workers must use care to pick bushes clean of all berries of the correct color and size, as instructed by supervisor. Grade, sort, wash, select, label or pack harvested products into bags or boxes. Crops may be harvested and field packed, or transported to the packinghouse for further processing. Stack boxes onto pallets, transport vehicles or trailers. Make sure that plants are picked clean of all produce of correct size and maturity according to supervisor’s instructions being careful not to bruise or damage produce. Assemble boxes and build pallets. Workers will be working in an assembly line during the grading and packing process and must keep up with fellow workers and machines throughout the process. Manually lay and/or remove plastic and/or drip tape. Operate tractors, implements and equipment to plow, harrow, plant, cultivate, or harvest crops. As a minor activity, operate, repair, and maintain farm vehicles, implements and equipment. Participate in irrigation activities. Install, maintain and operate irrigation equipment. Dig and maintain irrigation ditches, field roads and right-of-ways. Install or remove items required in plasticulture. Clean and maintain all grounds and facilities. Load and unload crops and materials. 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. Remove stakes and string. 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. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.
Employer attests that it has sent (or will promptly send) original surety bond to CNPC.
Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker’s Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

There will be 2 shifts occuring for the entire contract. The first shift will begin at 7:00am and end at 3:00pm. The second shift
will begin at 8:00am and end at 4:00pm.
Workers should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer's control. These periods can occur anytime throughout the season. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and different tasks on different days.

Special Requirements

Two months of verifiable blueberry and blackberry harvesting experience required. Work in extremely hot, cold, and/or wet weather. Performed prolonged walking, sitting, stooping, bending, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs. Perform repetitive movements.