Strawberry Picker (organic)

Job description

Strawberry Pickers will perform the following duties:

Organic Strawberries: Work with strawberries; perform strawberry planting/replanting, stripping, road, flower and runner cutting, vine trellising, hoop plastic installation/tear down, sucker removal, cane removal, and removal of old strawberry vines.

Workers will also perform duties associated with and directly related to strawberry harvest work, including but not limited to picking and packing strawberries in the field for fresh market, cannery, and freezing/juicing. Other duties include distinguishing the quality and ripeness of strawberries, pick and place berries in tray/ packing containers in the field. Pickers will work on a berry picker machine to perform harvest duties. Working in rows, the worker bends over and picks berries with hands, places the berries in a box and stacks the full boxes of berries on the machine floor; the top of the machine carries the empty boxes; with the aid of the berry picker machine, the worker does not need to carry the full boxes to stack them at the end of the row.

Workers may occasionally and/or sporadically perform duties associated with and directly related to the primary duties. Such work will be temporary and unsubstantial agricultural labor.

Special Requirements

Workers will be trained for at least 7 days in strawberry picking; one-month previous experience working with strawberries (organic or non-organic) is required. 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.

See Addendum C.