Farm Workers

Job description

Perform manual labor to plant, cultivate and harvest strawberries, tomatoes, grape tomatoes, cabbage, yellow and green squash, eggplant, bell peppers, okra, cantaloupe, cucumber and watermelon. Plant and cultivate pumpkin and citrus trees. Operate farm equipment, tractor-drawn machinery and self propelled machinery. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears and knives. Keep up with truck that is moving through rows alongside workers. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting; weeding, thinning or pruning crops; cleaning, sorting, grading, counting, checking, packing and loading harvested products. Load and unload produce. Keep cooler stocked. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities. Set up and operate irrigation equipment. Operate farm equipment, tractor-drawn machinery and self propelled machinery to plow, harrow, and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops. Transport produce and agricultural equipment from field to packing shed. Drive trucks to haul products to the market. Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements and mechanical equipment which may include welding. Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand. Apply pesticides and herbicides to crops. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Identify plants, pests and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields or costs. Workers are also responsible for farm, field and shed sanitation including picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping floors and other farm and shed sanitation duties. As a minor activity manage bee hives for pollination.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

Workers should expect occasional periods of little or no work because of weather, crop or other conditions beyond the employer's control. These periods can occur anytime throughout the season. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and different tasks on different days.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a two day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the introductory period if the worker's performance fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable. Employer may terminate a worker for lawful job-related reasons, including but not limited to situations in which the worker: (1) Is repeatedly absent or tardy; (2) malingers or otherwise refuses, without cause, to perform the work as directed; (3) commits act(s) of misconduct or repeatedly violates the Work Rules; and/or (4) fails, after completing the two day introductory period, to perform work in a competent and skillful manner, consistent with the employer's reasonable expectations.

Special Requirements

Three months of experience in planting and harvesting vegetables is required. Prolonged walking, bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling and lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs. Perform repetitive movements. Work outside in extremely hot, cold and/or wet weather conditions. Employer is a drug and alcohol free workplace. Drug and/or alcohol testing is conducted post-hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process.