Field Worker (strawberry Conventional)

Job description

Field Worker (Strawberry Harvest) to perform the following duties:
Strawberries: Workers will perform duties associated with and directly related to strawberry harvest work, including but not limited to picking and packing in the field for fresh market and freezing/juicing. Distinguish quality and ripeness is required during picking and place in tray/packing containers in field ranging from ¼ lbs to six 2 lb containers in the field. Pickers will also be involved in bed set up. Planting and plant clean up. Stacker will stack boxes/crates on pallets, transfer strawberry boxes/craps from HP bank to inspection table, prepare empty harvest boxes for harvester by placing empty baskets, stamp grower seal on all harvested boxes prior to transporting into the cooler and performs all other duties associated to strawberry crew.
Plant cleaning: weeding using long-handled hoes and by hand, pulling plastic, pulling of drip tape, plant/field maintenance, cleaning of old and new vegetative growth on plant bed. Plant bed will be classified as Medium or High according to the amount of runners and new/old vegetative growth present during performing work task. Weeding by hand is occasional/intermittent (less than 20% of weekly work time). Employer complies with the California health and safety rules applicable to hand weeding.

Cal Van Driver Specifications:

1. Employee may drive Cal Vans which are not buses over the road.
2. Employee picks up workers from different housing sites/pick up points and takes them to an assigned work site and at the end of the day takes them back to the housing site/pick up point.
3. In order to drive a Cal Van, Employees must possess valid driver’s license (state issued) and must be able to pass Class B Physical exam and register as an FLCE driver. The employer will be responsible for the cost of the California Driver’s License, Class B Physical Exam, and registration as an FLCE driver (if any).

All employees in this position (H-2A as well as corresponding domestic workers), will be given the opportunity to obtain a driver’s license (DL) and register as an FLCE driver on a voluntary basis. The DL and FLCE Certificate are not a pre-hire job requirement. No job applicant will be denied an employment opportunity due to a lack of a DL or FLCE Certificate at the time of application and/or hiring. Further, no worker (H-2A or corresponding domestic worker) will be terminated for failure to obtain a DL or FLCE Certificate.

CalVan drivers may be H-2A or corresponding domestic workers. The employer assures that employees who drive the CalVans are compensated for their time driving. CalVan drivers perform MSPA and related paperwork (i.e., logging) as required by law which they are compensated for. The CalVan driving job duty is not a different job and the drivers perform harvesting job duties when not driving. Drivers pick up workers from the housing sites/pick up points and drop them off at the worksite. At the end of the workday, the CalVan driver takes the workers back to the housing sites/pick up points. Drivers are also responsible, during the workday, for filling the vehicle with gasoline and keeping it clean. The employer assures that drivers are paid the AEWR for actual driving time, processing CalVans paperwork, trips to the gas station, and cleaning the vehicle.

Workers may occasionally and/or sporadically perform duties associated with and directly related to the primary duties.  Such work will be temporary and unsubstantial agricultural labor.
od if the worker had instead been paid at the appropriate hourly wage rate for each hour worked.

Special Requirements

1 month of strawberry harvest experience. Specific requirements include lifting up to 50 pounds frequently and able to use hand tools, including cutting knives. Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc. Must be able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions, including rain, cold, high winds, etc. Work involves frequent bending and working in bent or stooped positions. Must be able to walk and stand up extensively. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in the field or residential housing.