Field Workers: Table Grape Harvesters

Job description

H-2A and corresponding domestic workers must be available to perform each of the following job activities in connection with the harvesting and farming operations:

Field Workers: Table Grape Harvesters, CalVan Drivers, Forklift Drivers, Tractor Drivers, Row Boss, General Ranch Maintenance / General Farm Labor, in field packing preparing freshly harvested crops for shipment in their original, unmanufactured state, Field Safety/Food Safety activities, Housing Monitor, Sanitization activities, and Health/Wellness Monitor to perform the following duties:

Workers will harvest table grapes by hand. Workers work in groups of three to harvest the grapes – two workers will perform hand harvest and one worker places the table grapes in plastic bags (in the field). Hand-harvesting is performed using knives and/or shears. Workers cut the bunches at the stem. After whole bunches are cut, workers place them in collection/picking baskets/lugs and transfer them to the worker placing the grapes in plastic bags. The picker trims the ripe clusters leaving those that are not ripe behind. Workers push a loaded wheelbarrow across uneven and soft terrain with 125 lbs of weight for approximately 200 yards where the harvested product is handed to the worker placing the harvested grapes in the plastic bags , who works at a portable stand in the avenue between vineyard blocks. The harvested table grapes are placed in plastic bags in the field. Workers must have the ability to visually evaluate and sort fruit based on slight differences in fruit size, fruit uniformity, color, firmness. Workers must have the ability to determine subtle differences in shades of green, yellow, red, purple, and black, in varying light and shade environments. In field packing preparing freshly harvested crops for shipment in their original, unmanufactured state. Workers may also perform general grape labor.

Forklift Driver:
Sits down on the forklift and performs the following:
1. Moves knobs in the machine to move loads (bins or pallets) from one trailer to another in fields.
2. Loads and unloads from trailer, empty containers and containers full of product in fields.

Tractor Driver:
1. Transferring of water from Reefer to tractor and from tractor to Machine and they mix chlorine with water.
2. Builds bins on top of a platform, transports trailer from the lot the yard and tarp loads.
3. Drives tractor as bins are filled up.

Rowboss: Assist crew foreman with pre-harvest process and audits. Checks product’s quality. Serves as quality control person. Helps coordinate daily production. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Build/repair fences. Clear debris from field and clean/maintain farm buildings, structures, equipment, and work areas.

General Ranch Maintenance / General Farm Labor includes, but is not limited to, on the farm road maintenance and dust control to farm roadways by means of farm equipment.

Housing monitor: Workers will perform work on the farm at the growing and housing locations – lives in company-provided housing; assists with maintenance and upkeep/repairs of worker housing facilities, including housing cleaning detail to provide a high standard for safe and secure living conditions and food service; help set up housing prior to occupancy and move furniture (mainly bunk beds and mattresses) from the housing sites to storage containers after the end of the period of need; monitors food is served accordingly to all workers; reports incidents or complaints; monitor and prepare reports on attendance; must be able to drive and will occasionally drive to other housing sites / fields to check on employees.

Special Requirements

2-months experience in grape harvest. Written verification of experience is required. Workers must stand, sit, crouch, bend, reach, lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds in the course of performing required activities. Workers must be able to listen, understand, and follow instructions of company supervisors and managers.

The company's Employment Arbitration Agreement is set forth in this Clearance Order outlining the procedures to follow in raising concerns to seek their prompt resolution with an option to arbitrate unresolved matters.