Farmworker Crew

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Apples, cherries.
This job requires a minimum of three months of prior experience working in tree fruit orchards, handling both manual and machine tasks associated with fruit production, pruning activities and showing proficiency with orchard ladder use. Workers must be able to perform all duties with accuracy and efficiency.

New Development – Tasks will include using manual labor and/or mechanical methods to build and/or install new trellis, making needed repairs to old trellis, install shade cloth, digging post holes and placing post in the ground, running wire along and securing trellis supports, tying and training trees to the wire using clips. In new tree planting development, tasks may include painting trees, hand fertilizing, installing and later removing protection cartons and bambooo training shoots. Replanting trees and repairing posts. Young tree limbs will be attached to the wire using special tape, wood spacers, or other provided fasteners at specific intervals, based on supervisory instruction. Workers must exercise care at all times to prevent the breaking of branches and limbs.

Summer Pruning – Tasks will include pruning trees, while safely using ladders, loppers and safety glasses. Worker platforms will also be deployed in some fields. Specific branches will be removed based on supervisory instruction. Pruned branches will be arranged in the center of the rows for removal. Workers must exercise care at all times to prevent breaking of branches and limbs. Similar tasks will be performed to remove fire blighted limbs from trees, which may also include using shovels and hand work to remove affected trees and lay them in a pile for disposal.

Apple Picking – Tasks will include spot and/or strip picking apples based on seasonal need. Fruit should be snapped off of the tree with thumb and palm of the hand to avoid stem pulls, punctures, bruising or other damage. Culls and peelers will need to be sorted. Fruit buckets will be carried up and down ladders, with fruit gently placed into bins, to avoid bruising.

Supervisor/Foreman’s instructions will need to be followed for color and size requirements. Color differentiation of fruit will be necessary. Some varieties may also require clipping of stems while being picked. Bin trailers will be operated to swap full and empty bins in and out of the field. Hyster’s will be used to move full or empty bins off and onto transportation trucks. Workers will be responsible to report on the quality of the fruit, adjust the level of apples in the bins, and insure that the bins are ticketed properly before loading onto the trucks. Harvest preparation may include placing liners in bins and loading/unloading empty bins by hand and placing in the orchards. Worker platforms will also be deployed in some fields.

Cherry Picking: Workers must be able to handle ladders which are 12ft in length and weigh approximately 40 lbs. while managing a picking bucket/basket that when full can weigh up to 20 lbs. Pickers are required to pick the fruit by leaving the stems attached with their fingers and by placing the harvested fruit at the bottom of the bucket/basket. Great care must be taken to ensure that the fruit is harvested and placed into the buckets/baskets so as not to bruise or damage the fruit.

Picking will be performed by color, or color and size as well as by defects which would render the fruit unmarketable. Such defects include but are not limited to bird pecks, limb rub, splits and sunburn. The harvest supervisor will show all harvesters the correct way to pick cherries to reach all quality objectives of the company. Instructions and overall supervision and direction of workers will be provided by a company supervisor. Workers will be expected to perform basic duties in a timely and proficient manner without close supervision.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of prior experience working in tree fruit orchards, handling both manual and machine tasks associated with fruit production, pruning activities and showing proficiency with orchard ladder use. Workers must be able to perform all duties with accuracy and efficiency. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid pre-employment and post-hire drug testing required. Workers with clean driving record and/or insurable driver's license may be required to drive company vehicles.