Farmworker/laborer

Job description

Farm Laborer:
Hand 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 10ft orchard ladder weighing 50lbs. 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.

Blossom removal: Worker removes smallest fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within fruit cluster, by hand.

Tree planting: Trees will be unbundled and handled with care as not to break and damage young trees. Trees are planted mechanically with a planter and by hand. Worker will ride the machine and place plants in the holes as the machine moves along the row. Tree graft union height will be adjusted by pulling the tree until at a specific height using a specially marked stick as a measure. Straighten tree and compact soil around tree. Worker will be required to unload 60lb boxes of trees to be planted.

Spraying: Worker will be required to spray trees in assigned orchard 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 supervisors instructions. Worker will be required to wear personal protective equipment in accordance with company policies. Worker will complete preparation tasks including measuring and pouring chemicals into tank and greasing tractor. Worker may not use phone while spraying.

Deer fence construction/install: Worker will install deer fence around perimeter of orchard. Worker will clear fence line prior to fence installation. Worker will place fence posts into ground every 25-35ft using shovel, posthole digger and level. Worker will attach metal fence to posts using fence stretcher and secure using air-stapler, nailer and other hand tools. Worker will maintain fence line throughout growing season and perform repairs as needed.

Pruning: Worker will prune numerous apples tree varieties, in accordance to the established company procedures.
Each variety may be pruned differently. Worker performs pruning on trees for long periods of time using a variety
of pruning equipment including hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws, electric pruners, hydraulic pruners and up
to an 8ft ladder. Pruning and thinning may be done from ground or with up to an 8ft ladder or from motorized
platforms or Brownies. 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, shoots/suckers, and root suckers. Selected caliper branches/limbs may be removed and young leader selection will be performed with hand pruning saws and clippers, and mechanized equipment for pruning activities.

SEE ADDENDUM C FOR ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES

Special Requirements

2 verifiable months of commercial tree fruit hand harvest experience required. Applicants must furnish job references from recent employers within the past 3 years establishing acceptable prior experience.

Season Commitment: Job offered requires worker be available for and worker agrees to work every day that work is available for entire employment period.

Worker must be able to perform job description duties in safe manner consistent with established safety procedures.

Worker must possess requisite physical strength and endurance to repeat harvest process throughout workday. Worker must work at sustained pace and make good faith efforts to work efficiently as reasonable under working conditions and consistent with amount, quality and efficiency of 3/4 of 18 bushel box per hour for apple hand harvest of strip pick and color pick.