Farmworker

Job description

Manually plant, cultivate, harvest, grade and pack over 40 varieties of fruits and vegetables. Plant roots, seeds and bulbs. Transplant by hand. Spread and remove plastic or other ground covering. Clean plastic by hand from ground upon removal. Till soil. Weed and thin plants. Stake/tie plants, trellis/prune plants, and set poles and wires for vine plants. Pick, cut, lift, or pull crops during harvest and place in box/bucket/container. Take harvested product to trailer, bin, container or designated area. Tie vegetables in bunches. Grade, size, and sort product according to color, shape, size, appearance, feel, and/or quality, in accordance with supervisor's instructions. Inspect products for damage/defects and discard inferior products and foreign matter. Place product in bins/trays and other containers according to grade and mark grades on containers. Weigh products and record weight and/or grade. Handle product carefully to prevent damage. Work on production line to pack product by hand or with mechanized equipment, including but not limited to bagging machines, bin feeders, box machines, labeling machines, regular and high stacking forklifts. Pack/bunch/bundle product pursuant to supervisor instructions. Fill bins/trays and other containers with product, level bins, and prepare product for shipment to market or storage. Palletize and stack boxes/containers. Move product to storage areas and/or loading areas to prepare for shipping. Keep material and product records accurately. Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines, drip tape. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Dig and maintain ditches. Apply organic fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions. Operate agricultural equipment properly and in a manner that protects operator, others, the employer’s products and property. Mow, cut, weed and clean fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, post-harvest activities and other manual tasks. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs including hoop houses and tunnels. Build/repair fences. Clean/sanitize work station and equipment. As a minor activity, workers may tend to livestock when needed. Workers who have a valid driver’s license and doctor’s certificate may drive employer’s transportation vehicles to transport workers and may be offered additional 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 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.

Special Requirements

Three months of farm work experience harvesting fruits or vegetables required. Work outdoors in inclement weather conditions. Work requires repetitive movements, frequent walking, standing, reaching, stooping, bending, pushing/pulling and lifting, carrying and loading up to 50 lbs.