Farmworker/laborer

Job description

FARM LABORER:
Planting/ Field Preparation: Worker will engage in mechanical and hand planting. When hand planting, worker will use a shovel to make a hole in the ground and prepare the field for planting as instructed by supervisor. Workers will prepare the field for mechanical planting as instructed by supervisor. Workers will engage in general tillage work, including but not limited to driving a tractor, digging, plowing and hoeing. Worker will drive instructed tractor and plant mechanically as directed by supervisor.

Plastic Laying: Workers will ride the machine monitoring the rolls of plastic as the machine lays down row of plastic. Workers on ends of rows will hold plastic as machine moves away down row unrolling plastic. Worker will cut the plastic at end of row, use a shovel to place plastic into ground and make the rows even and straight, and will conduct clean-up activities. Workers will unload plastic and drip-tape from truck and load plastic and drip- tape on plastic laying machine as needed. Workers may be asked at times to jointly lift up to 120lbs of plastic from truck.

Plastic Removal: Workers will remove plastic and conduct field clean-up activities at end of season.

Pruning: Pruning numerous varieties of apple trees according to established company procedures based on difference in treatment of different varieties. Worker performs pruning on trees for long periods of time using variety of pruning equipment including hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws, and 12-foot ladders. Pruning and thinning may be done from ground or up to 12 feet ladder. Worker may be required to selectively prune only certain size and color trees as instructed by Employer. Worker must possess or acquire pruning skills in order to identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches which rub against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots/suckers with hand pruning saws and clippers.

Thinning: Thinning is a manual process used to control the size and quality of grown fruit. Worker must possess ability to pick up and handle 10-foot orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Worker removes smallest fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within fruit cluster. Worker identifies and removes misshapen, damaged and/or other not quality fruit as directed by Employer.

Vineyard Maintenance: Worker performs vineyard canopy management to permit light and air to circulate around grapevines, including thinning fruit and removing shoots, leaves and vines. Worker will select and remove clusters as need be, as directed by supervisor. Worker may be required to hedge upper canopy by hand. Worker will conduct replacement, removal and general maintenance of bird netting and deer fencing.

Spraying: Worker may be selected to spray trees in assigned fruit tree blocks/middles as directed by supervisor, using tractor and large spray attachment. Worker must be able to safely drive tractor, exercising caution to not damage fruit trees or other objects. Worker must be able to read measurements including quarts, pints, ounces, and accurately combine chemicals according to supervisor’s instructions. Worker will be required to wear personal protective equipment in accordance with company policies. Worker must complete paperwork required for precise record keeping purposes. Worker will complete preparation tasks including measuring and pouring chemicals into tank and greasing tractor. Worker will clean sprayer mixing facilities. Worker will prepare chemical containers for recycling. During peak spray season, worker may be required to occasionally work overnight shifts and offered shifts up to 18 hours long due to weather conditions. Worker may not use phone while spraying.

SEE ADDENDUM C FOR ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES

Special Requirements

Job requires worker to complete tasks in general farm labor, orchard and field maintenance and hand harvest of apples, blueberries, cherries, Christmas trees, peaches, hay and zucchini.

Experience Requirement: Two verifiable months of commercial tree fruit hand harvest or commercial vegetable hand harvest required. Applicants must furnish job references from recent employers within the last 5 years establishing acceptable prior experience.

Drug testing not utilized as pre-employment tool. See work rules for more information regarding post-employment drug testing.