Melon Harvest/broccoli Harvest & Shed Labor

Job description

Rancho Nuevo Harvesting, Inc.’s (also referred to herein as “Rancho Nuevo” “Employer” or “Company”) main office is located at 1225 La Brea Ave, Santa Maria, CA 93458, (mailing address: 1225 La Brea Ave, Santa Maria, CA 93454), phone 805-347-1370. The Employer has designated this office as the Application Site.
Rancho Nuevo is a fixed site grower for this specific application as it now operates the farm through a recently amended Operating Agreement.
CA TAX ID: 01848084

Workers Needed:
a. Total: 175 b. H-2A: 170
Rancho Nuevo Harvesting seeks certification for 170 H-2A workers and 175 total workers. Of the 175 total workers, 5 will be domestic workers who do not require housing.

Job Duties:

Melon Harvest:
Workers will harvest cantaloupe and honey dew melons, including packing, stacking, cutting, and sorting product.

Broccoli Harvest:
Field worker to harvest broccoli. Cut, bunch, pack and load fresh broccoli and in the field. Cutting is done on harvesting machine by using hands and cutting knife. Using a harvesting hand knife and bending at the waist, the employee cuts the stalk from the roots to prepare it to be packed into a carton, a tote or a bin. The process is repeated. Worker is responsible for cleaning of equipment and maintenance of field (picking up trash, weeding (using a long-handled hoe), hoeing (using a long handles hoe), moving equipment, moving of irrigation pipes and drip tape. Pre- and Post-Harvest clean up.

Shed Labor:
Workers will unload onto the line (pitchers), pack product, apply stickers, stack product, put lids on and strap product, perform traceability and receiving tagging, set up cartons and bins, sanitation. The shed is located directly adjacent to the field owned and operated by Fisher Ranch Corp for Rancho Nuevo Harvesting (see previously listed Fisher Ranch Corp.16th Ave & Arrowhead, Blythe, CALIFORNIA, 92225). The shed is located 3.0 miles away from 16th Ave & Arrowhead, which is approximately a 6-minute drive. *Even locations that are near or adjacent to the farm are considered on the farm. See Brennan v. Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, 486 F.2d. 1006, 1011 (5th Cir. 1974). (Camp cooking facilities were 15 miles from the farm).
Shed Labor and trucking are considered Secondary Agriculture because it is in conjunction with and incidental to Rancho Nuevo’s farming operations since 100% of the crop is produced by Rancho Nuevo as the operator of the farm.

General Labor:
Weeding using long-handled hoes, transplanting, runner cutting, plant thinning, and ranch maintenance, pulling plastic, pulling of drip tape, cleaning of old and new vegetative growth on plant bed. Plant bed will be classified as “Medium” or “High” according to the amount of runners and new/old vegetative growth present during performing work task.

Tractor Driver:
Tractor drivers will drive and control tractors in fields.

Machine set up:
Worker will check the machine for water and diesel; Put sticker on bags; Supply cartons for the day and put on the machine; Open or close machine; Put machine where crew will start; move trailer, drive tractor and caterpillar.

Crew Lead:
Team Leaders will additionally be responsible for checking quality, filling out paperwork, and receiving order for production. May clock in other workers.

Sanitation worker:
Cleans, pressure washes, and moves restrooms on farms/fields.

Mechanics:
On the farm, Mechanics will fix tractors, cat loaders, harvest machines, lunch trailers, painting of the harvest equipment, and will perform other mechanic functions that the harvesting equipment may need. Work takes place on various farms. Mechanics must be able to lift 40 pounds and have at least 3 months of mechanic experience with diesel and gas equipment.

Special Requirements

3 months of experience harvesting melon or broccoli is required. Specific requirements include lifting up to 30-55 pounds frequently and able to use hand tools, including cutting knives. Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc. Must be able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions, including rain, cold, high winds, etc. Work involves frequent bending and working in bent or stooped positions. Must be able to walk and stand up extensively. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in the field or residential housing.

(Continues on Addendum C)