Farmworkers/laborers
Employer
261 Mullins Rd
Yakima , WA 98908
United States
Job description
Crops: apples, cherries, and pears. These crops listed may or may not be planted.
Under the direction of a crew supervisor, this application encompasses harvest of apples, pears as well as thinning, pruning, training and other orchard labor.
The worker will perform duties on a motorized platform, from the ground and/ or utilizing a ladder. The worker must possess the ability to pick-up and handle a 10 - 12 ft. orchard ladder. All other duties assigned under this order are those of the Farm Worker, Diversified Crops, Standard Occupational Classification (SOC): 45-2092 job under the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The worker will be assigned work by the supervisor and may perform any of the duties herein. Worker will harvest in a safe, effective manner obeying all work and safety rules, being observant of moving equipment, slip and trip hazards and other potentially dangerous situations, reporting some to supervisors. Worker will report all injuries: use safety procedures while sharpening knives and performing job.
Cherry Harvest: The worker will hand harvest marketable cherries on a motorized platform, from the ground and/or utilizing a ladder. The worker will attach the harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit. The worker will pick according to grade, color, and size by grasping fruit with their hands and removing it from the tree in a motion so as not to cause "picker damage" defined as harming adjacent buds on the tree branches, bruising, pulling stems or spurs. The worker will carry a harness, bucket, or bag of up to 20-30lbs and will place fruit into plastic lugs.
Pear & Apple Harvest: The worker will hand harvest marketable apples/ pears on a motorized platform, from the ground and/ or utilizing a ladder. The worker will attach the harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit, while standing on the ground and higher branches while standing on a ladder. The worker will pick according to grade, color, and size by grasping fruit with their hands and removing it from the tree in a motion that will not harm buds on tree branches. The worker will carry the harness or bag of up to 60 lbs. and will place the fruit into bins. The worker must exercise care at all times to prevent picker damage", defined as bruising of fruit, stem/ spur punctures, clipper damage or other defects caused by improper care or technique. Some workers may be tasked with examining harvested fruit in bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the
grade, color, and size specifications. Workers will be directed to "sort pick", based on a pre-communicated color standard or removal of physiological defects (sunburn, diseased fruit).
Thinning: The worker will hand thin on a motorized platform, from the ground and/ or utilizing a ladder. The worker will use scissor-like clippers to remove small fruit blossoms, buds, and/ or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits.
The workers must be able to identify and remove fruit that is misshapen, damaged, and/ or contains other quality problems.
Training: The worker will hand train fruit trees on a motorized platform, from the ground and/ or utilizing a ladder. The worker will tie, tape, or clip fruit tree limbs to wires; position limbs of fruit trees; shoot thin; remove suckers, thin clusters, position shoots, hedge or remove leaves.
Pruning: The worker will hand prune trees on a motorized platform, from the ground and/ or utilize a ladder. The worker will utilize hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws and other equipment. The worker may be required to selectively prune trees of certain size and color as instructed by their supervisor. The worker will identify and remove stubs, broken branches, downward growing branches, branches which rub against each other, shaded interior branches, deadwood, shoots, and suckers with various equipment.
Special Requirements
SEE ADDENDUM C
4e) Must be able to lift and/or load 60lbs.
4g) Work may take place when temperatures are below freezing and above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
4h) May require extensive pulling and/or pushing of tools, wheelbarrows, fruit containers, etc.
4i) May require the worker to sit and/or walk for extended periods of time while sorting, picking, examining, weeding, transporting, pruning, etc.
4j) Workers will be required to stoop and/or bend over while performing farm labor such as weeding, irrigating, pruning, picking, removing debris, etc.
4k) There will be repetitive movements while performing most of the farm labor duties, for example picking, sorting, pruning, shoveling, weeding, etc.