Agricultural Equipment Operator/farmworker/packer

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Blueberries.
This job requires a minimum of 3 months of verifiable agricultural field work experience, preferably including a minimum of 3 months of verifiable experience operating blueberry harvesting machine, other harvesting machine or tractor, or a minimum of 3 months of vegetable or fruit packing experience, handling both manual and mechanized tasks. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience.

Hand-harvest export-quality blueberries and/or operate machine-harvester for blueberries and/or work on the harvester for export-quality berries.

Hand pick/harvest blueberries destined for export to quailty standards of export required.
Trellis berry plants. Install trellis posts.
Weed specific fields of blueberry varieties. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels.

Use power equipment including but not limited to: driving tractors with various implements and spray tanks attached, harvesters, planters, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, high lifts, fork lifts. Must operate agricultural equipment safely, with or without direction.

Apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Mix and apply chemicals, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions.

Work on production line to pack product by hand or with mechanized equipment, including but not limited to bagging machines, bin feeders, box machines, labeling machines, regular and high stacking forklifts. Pack/bunch/bundle product pursuant to supervisor instructions. Fill bins/trays and other containers with product, level bins, and prepare product for shipment to market or storage. Move 15-pound berry totes; pack filled clam shells into box; place 9-pound filled boxes onto skid. Perform quality control on inbound/outbound loads. Follow quality control standards and production procedures. Handle product carefully to prevent damage. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Palletize and stack boxes/containers. Move product to storage areas and/or loading areas to prepare for shipping. Keep material and product records accurately. Assist with regular maintenance on equipment. Clean/sanitize work station and equipment.

Must have sufficient hand and finger dexterity to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. Must be able to differentiate colors, textures, and other attributes of product to distinguish varieties and identify defects.

Workers must operate all equipment properly and in a manner that protects operator, others, the employer’s products and property. Failure to comply with safety requirements and operating instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination.

Supervisor(s) will provide instructions and directions to workers. Workers must be able to comprehend and follow instructions and communicate effectively to supervisors.Unusual, complex or non-routine activities will be supervised. Workers expected to perform basic duties in a proficient manner without close supervision.

Work is done in the field for long periods of time. Workers may assist in handling product weighing up to 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers must work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Work required in fields when plants are wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours can range from 10 to over 100 degrees 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 3 months of verifiable agricultural field work experience, preferably including a minimum of 3 months of verifiable experience operating blueberry harvesting machine, other harvesting machine or tractor, or a minimum of 3 months of vegetable or fruit packing experience, handling both manual and mechanized tasks. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Workers with clean driving record and/or insurable driver's license may be required to drive company vehicles.