Farm Worker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Peaches, pears, apricots, apples, cherries, watermelons.
This job requires a minimum of three months of prior experience working on a fruit or vegetable farm, handling both manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Workers will drive tractors to spray, cultivate and transport fruit and field boxes; prune fruit trees, thin and harvest peaches, apricots, cherries, pears and apples. Productivity must be at least 50 boxes per day of fresh market fruit, including apples, peaches, pears, and 70 boxes per day of processing fruit, including apples, peaches, pears. Workers must be physically able to pick tree fruit, most of which is done from ladders, with lower branches being picked from ground. Picked fruit is placed in a metal-framed canvas covered picking bucket with canvas straps that slip over the head and rest on the shoulders. Filled bucket, weighing up to 35 lbs., is emptied into bulk bins. When necessary, workers are required to handle and pick from ladders up to 12 ft. in length and weighing 10 to 15 pounds. Worker places ladder firmly against or within tree in a secure position so as not to break limbs or knock off fruit and to prevent slipping or falling. All fruit must be handled with care to avoid bruising. Each tree will be picked according to instructions given each day by the orchard foreman. Primary duty will be to harvest fruit; however other duties will be offered including hand thinning fruit, picking roots, rocks and other debris, mulching, pruning, cutting shoots and suckers, raking cuttings and debris, inserting/removing tree spreaders, pulling or cutting thorny plants, weeds and vines from around trees (some weeds may be noxious), hand placement of rodent baits around trees, operation and maintenance of tractors and other equipment, cleaning and clearing fence rows and farm buildings. May load and unload trucks, install irrigation equipment and clean equipment. Employer expects workers to work with or without supervision at such tasks.

Must be able to safely maneuver ladders up to 12 feet in length on steep and uneven terrain. Must be experienced in distinguishing between apple varieties and be able to spot pick trees for acceptable color. Field supervision monitors workers to ensure fruit is not bruised in picking. Must be able to sort out fruit with defects.

Tasks include planting, cultivating and harvesting watermelons. May stake/tie plants, trellis/prune plants, and set poles and wires for vine plants. Considerable stooping and kneeling is required. Care must be taken to prevent damaging produce and plants.

Work will also include heavy mechanized orchard work using power equipment. By way of example and not limitation power equipment may include tractors, sprayers, planters and cultivators. Workers will be expected to be able to operate agricultural equipment with or without direction. Workers must be able to perform all duties of entry level workers as well as perform additional mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency.

Work is to be done for long periods of time. Workers are expected to perform duties including boxing, weighing and loading of product. Workers will assist in loading trucks with product weighing up to and including 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet for long periods of time. Workers should be able to work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers’ ability to perform the job. Workers are exposed to wet weather early in the morning through the heat of the day, working in fields. Temperatures may range from 40 to 105 F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of prior experience working on a fruit or vegetable farm, handling both manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs.