Farmworkers, Laborers, Crop

Job description

Harvest vegetables including cabbage, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, kale, peppers and corn. Operate, repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements and mechanical equipment. Harvest kale by walking along assigned rows, bending, and cutting the base, bunching, banding, placing tied bunches into boxes, carrying and loading full boxes onto trucks moving in front of group. Palletize boxes of kale. Pick squash, eggplant, peppers and cucumbers by cutting and placing in container. Workers will cut and pack product separately. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, shears and knives. Work in groups to harvest crops while being careful not to damage harvested product. Workers will be given an employee number in order to keep up with piece rates. Construct boxes. Load harvested products. Work within an assembly line to bundle and or pack product. Corn will be cut at the base using a knife and either tossed into bins or a bulk wagon, or placed into boxes weighing approximately 50 lbs. in the field and loaded onto trailers. Determine maturity level of produce quickly and consistently by color, feel and size and apply correct defect tolerance, handling and harvest standards as instructed by supervisor. Duties may include tilling soil, weeding, thinning, counting and checking crops. May repair fences and farm buildings, clean up the yard around the housing facility, or participate in irrigation activities. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Operate tractors, tractor drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops. Operate small tractors in the field to pull trailers. Inform managers of crop progress and identify plants, pests and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers. Workers with a valid license and doctor’s certificate may transport other workers and 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.

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.

Special Requirements

Three months of farm work experience required. Requires repetitive bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, sitting, walking and lifting and carrying of up to 50 lbs. Work is in inclement weather conditions including extreme heat, rain and cold.