Farmworkers & Laborers

Job description

Orchard worker: Prune and plant trees, vines, canes and bushes. Cultivate and hand-harvest tree fruits, berries and mixed vegetables, including but not limited to apples, peaches, cherries, raspberries, onions, carrots, celery, Brussel sprouts, parsnips, potatoes, garlic, shallots, winter squash, leeks. Pull weeds/chop: Workers will walk along rows as specified by employer and remove weeds and grass from fields by hand or using a hoe. Workers may pick up stones, roots and other debris from ground, place on trailer and unload. Paint tree trunks with water-based paint. Duties may include cleaning, field packing, loading and unloading harvested fruits, berries and vegetables. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities. May work in greenhouses: duties may include but are not limited to putting clips on plants, hooking fruit clusters, pulling suckers and picking of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, Basil, water cress, arugula and spring mix. Also, removing and re-planting plants at the end of the season for crop turnaround also includes removing or replacing soil and irrigation drip lines throughout greenhouses. Also adding stone dust to the floors in the greenhouses. Weed whacking around the greenhouses and general maintenance of the greenhouses interior and exterior. Workers will regularly work around machinery, including multiple washing lines to wash grade and sort through all types of produce. Field grade, sort, or classify by size, weight, color, or condition. Perform farm, field and shed sanitation duties. May operate farm vehicles or equipment. May drive farm truck, tractor, or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on the farm. Though not a hiring requirement, if a worker drives a company vehicle during the period of employment then at the time of operating the company vehicle the driver must possess a valid driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or foreign equivalent and operate the company vehicle in accordance with the license restrictions and vehicle classifications applicable to that license. Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. Must be able to carry a full picking bag up and down using up to a 9 feet step ladder or an 18 feet straight ladder repetitively throughout the work day. Must be able to discern colors accurately in order to perform color-specific picking. Must not hinder another worker’s productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Must commit to entire anticipated period of employment.

Pickers/pruners: Hand-harvest apples, nectarines, plums, pears, apricots and peaches. Load and unload harvested fruits by hand. Prune apple and peach trees according to supervisor’s instructions. Workers will hand thin peach, nectarine, plum, apricot and apple trees. Worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit while standing on ground and higher branches while standing on a ladder. Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit with the palms and not bruise the fruit (not grasping fruit with the fingers) and removing from the tree in a motion so as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches. Worker will carry full harness, bucket or bag and place fruit into wooden or plastic bins which hold up to 25 bushels of fruit. Care must be exercised at

Special Requirements

Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. Must be able to carry a full picking bag up and down using up to a 9 feet step ladder or an 18 feet straight ladder repetitively throughout the work day. Must be able to discern colors accurately in order to perform color-specific picking. Must not hinder another workers productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in