Farmworkers

Job description

Transplant, cultivate, harvest, grade and pack watermelons by hand. Participate in irrigation activities. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears and knives. Till soil. Transplant, weed, thin, and prune crops. Set transplants or seed by hand as directed. Handle seedlings with care. Install or remove items required in plasticulture. Transplant watermelons in bare soil. Cover seedlings with floating row covers. Prune roots and vines. Remove misshapen and blossom-end rot affected root. Plant windbreakers. Use pollinizer crops. Cover soil with plastic. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Participate in irrigation activities. Set up and operate irrigation equipment. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Record information about crops, yields or costs. Plant rows which includes bending and stooping all day while walking in plowed dirt, with the expectation of being able to measure planting distance with your own stride (steps) and carrying all the plants needed for that row. A typical planting day will involve around 10,000 ft of rows setting a plant every five feet. Grade, sort, wash, clean, select, label, pack, and/or load harvested products. Load melons onto trucks. Assemble cartons, crates and containers. Clean and maintain work areas and equipment. Assist in 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 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.

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.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a two day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the introductory period if the worker’s performance fails to satisfy the employer’s reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable. Employer may terminate a worker for lawful job-related reasons, including but not limited to situations in which the worker: (1) Is repeatedly absent or tardy; (2) malingers or otherwise refuses, without cause, to perform the work as directed; (3) commits act(s) of misconduct or repeatedly violates the Work Rules; and/or (4) fails, after completing the two day introductory period, to perform work in a competent and skillful manner, consistent with the employer's reasonable expectations. Non-U.S. workers may be displaced as a result of one or more U.S. workers becoming available for the job during the employer’s recruitment period. Job abandonment will be deemed to occur after five consecutive workdays of unexcused absences. Workers may not report for work under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol on company premises is prohibited and will be cause for immediate termination.

Special Requirements

Walk, bend and stoop in plowed dirt for prolonged periods of time, lift and carry up to 50 lbs. Push and pull. Work outside in unshaded fields in extreme heat.