Farmworker/laborer

Job description

FARM LABORER:
Pruning: Worker may prune numerous varieties of fruit trees and blueberry bushes according to established company procedures based on difference in treatment of different varieties. Worker performs pruning on trees for long periods of time using a variety of pruning equipment including hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws, pullsaw, chainsaws and ladders. Pruning may be done from ground or using ladders. Worker may be required to selectively prune only certain 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, mechanized equipment in pruning activities. Worker must be able to stoop, bend, climb, and lift up to 60 lbs.

Grafting: Grafting is when a section of a fruit tree stem with leaf buds is manually inserted into the stock of a planted fruit tree. Worker will be required to safely use a knife to cut off a branch of the understock, making a straight, slanting cut. Worker will then attach the cut section of the new stem to the stock of the tree and bind tightly with tape. All grafts must be covered with a protective coating immediately after completing the graft.

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 8 orchard ladder weighing up to 75 pounds. Worker removes or spaces the fruit blossom, bud, or apple at preferred distances apart, as directed by Supervisor. Worker identifies and removes misshapen, damaged and/or other not quality fruit as directed by Employer.

Clearing Fields/Orchards: Worker will drive tractor to and from orchard/field with wagon attached. Workers will pick up, by hand, any rocks, roots, small stumps, or debris in the fields or orchards. Worker will need to lift up to 60 lbs. Items will be collected on trailer and will then be emptied by hand into a brush pile.

Tree planting: Trees will be unbundled and handled with care as not to break and damage young trees. Worker will safely use knife to cut twine bundling trees. Worker must use care to not cut themselves or the bark of the tree when unbundling. 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 75 pound boxes of trees to be planted.

Tree transplanting: Worker will dig up tree and transplant to new location then follow steps described for planting tree.

Trellis system construction/install: Placement of metal earth anchors and end post, end angle post and of inline post. Tools will be used such as shovel or posthole digger. Worker will assist in the placement of all wood posts so that the excavator can drill for posts. Posts are up to 14 feet tall. Posts may be re-aligned after placement with shovel, posthole digger, and level. Worker will pull wire down row, with use of platform, and will anchor wire to each post with a barbed staple. Worker will loop wire around end post and tie to metal earth anchor. Conduit will then be fastened to the wire with metal clips then tree will be tied/trained to the conduit using rubber tabs or tube tie. This may be performed by motorized platform or up to an 8 ladder. Worker will be required to lift up to 60 pounds.

SEE ADDENDUM C FOR ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES

Special Requirements

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

Drug screen not utilized as pre-employment tool. See work rules for additional information.

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.