Orchard Workers

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
apples, pumpkins.
This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable tree fruit experience, handling manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Workers must be able to perform all activities with accuracy and efficiency. Tree Training: hoeing, tree painting, weed mat application. Tie/position trees and limbs, together and to trellises, using string, tape, wire or other fasteners and supports.

Pruning: Hand pruning based on fruit variety. Use manual and mechanized pruning tools and equipment. Identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots-suckers.

Use/handle ladders up to 13 ft. in length and weighing up to 70 lbs. or perform work on motorized platform. Drive tractors to haul apple bins.

Harvest: Spot and/or strip pick fruit based on seasonal need. Snap fruit off tree with thumb and palm of hand to avoid stem pulls, punctures, bruising, or other damage. Pick culls and peelers. Fill fruit buckets and place fruit in bins. Follow supervisor/foreman's instructions on color/size requirements. Must be able to differentiate between colors and fruit varieties accurately. Supervisors will explain and demonstrate picking requirements to all workers at the start of the season and as needed thereafter to ensure quality standards. Bruised or damaged fruit will be noted by supervisor(s) in a post-inspection quality report. Supervisors may issue written disciplinary notice to workers with a significant number of culls, bruised, or damaged fruit. Repeated failure to follow quality control instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Minimum standard for clean picked apples are 17 bushels per hour. Harvested fruit will be kept free of limbs, leaves, decayed fruit and any other foreign matter.
Tasks include harvesting pumpkins. Propagates plants. May spread plastic or other ground covering. Weeds, thins, plants. Picks, cuts, lifts, or pulls crop to harvest them.

Work is done in the field for long periods of time. Workers may assist in handling product weighing up to 50 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 30 to over 90 degrees F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Workers should be able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations.

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 timely and proficient manner without close supervision.

Non-employees access to work sites or adjacent areas strictly prohibited. Non-working minors may not be present, adjacent to worksites, or left in vehicles during the day.

Tobacco use strictly prohibited. No smoking or tobacco use of any kind permitted in the fields, worker housing, or anywhere on company premises. This is necessary to protect against transmission of toxins and contamination from tobacco by-products.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable tree fruit experience, handling manual tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Workers must be able to perform all activities with accuracy and efficiency. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 70 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required upon reasonable suspicion of use.