Farmworkers And Laborers, Crop
Employer
3590 S 88th Ave.
New Era, MI 49446
United States
Job description
ASPARAGUS HARVEST: Worker will hand harvest asparagus. Asparagus plants can grow 3 – 10 inches per day, and during growing season, the field needs to be picked daily. In an asparagus field, asparagus pickers will sit in a bent position while riding on a specially-designed picking cart, while one of the pickers is designated as the “driver” of the picking cart in which they pick asparagus in their row while steering the cart. Pickers use both hands to hand snap the asparagus spears just above the ground as to not leave tall stubble no more than ½ inch allowed, also no pulling of spear and root out from the ground causing white ends and place in plastic lugs in an oriented manner that hold approximately 25 pounds when full of asparagus. Workers may be required to walk through rows behind the picking cart and stoop to hand snap spears just above ground that the workers on the picking cart missed. Worker will pick according to grade, color and size. Fresh harvesting, workers will carry the full lugs off of the cart and hand stack onto each other on a pallet lifted up onto the bed of a truck and secure with tape and a top. Processing harvesting, workers will carry the full lugs off of the cart, lift full lugs up to bed of truck and dump into 18 – 20 bushel wooden or plastic bin. Some workers who have a legal driver’s license may be needed to drive a truck to and from field. Workers will be required to lift up to 50lbs. Asparagus pickers will be required to bend, stoop, kneel, and stand for long periods of time. Harvest conditions vary based on weather patterns and market demands.
Apples Harvesting: Harvesting apples by hand under supervisor’s instructions, the worker will place a picking sack over the workers’ shoulder and carry an 18’ to 20’ ladder from the field truck to the particular area of the orchard to be harvested. The picking sack is a canvas and metal bag equipped with a shoulder strap for support, an opening for the insertion of fruit, and an opening to remove fruit. A full loaded sack weighs between approximately 35 to 40 pounds, depending upon the size, condition and variety of fruit. Worker positions ladder against the tree and within reach of the fruit in a leaning position, taking care not to break limbs, damage the tree, knock off fruit or interfere with other workers, in a secure position to prevent slipping or falling and possible injury to themselves or other workers. Worker will remove fruit from the tree and place into picking sack taking care to not bruise the fruit and to leave the stems attached to the apples. When pick sack is full take full sack to fruit bin and carefully dump. All fruit will be fresh fruit and must be bruise free.
Apple Packing: Workers tasks related to packing apples include, but not limited to, operating apple grading equipment, labelers and baggers; adjusting, maintaining and cleaning packing machines; folding cardboard containers. Grade and sort by hand, or classify apples by size, weight, color or condition, placing apples by hand into containers, tape, move and stack cartons on pallets. Repair bulk apple bins and pallets. Use hand tools such as: bag taper, stapler, air-hammer, broom and mop. For food and general safety purposes, all workers will be required to follow common sanitary practices, as specified by the employer, at all times. Note: The packing house is located inside the Farm and more than 50% of the product processed is produced by the Fixed Site Employer.
PLANTING: All crops. Worker will plant and/or replant as needed. These tasks will include repetitive and physically demanding shovel work. Worker may lift up to 50lbs. Worker may be required to ride a mechanical planter (training will be provided). Worker may be required to hand plant using tools such as a spade or hand trowel.
Special Requirements
This type of work, involves working conditions that require tremendous stamina, a high level of physical activity in cold or extremely hot conditions in direct sunlight and in adverse weather such as rain. The work requires a high level of physical conditioning. Due to the type of work involved, there is a Probationary Period of five (5) days beginning with the first day of employment, to show possession of the requisite physical strength and endurance to perform this type of work.