Farm Laborers

Job description

The farm work position includes duties associated with the harvesting and field packing of cauliflower, watermelon, and potatoes. This work can require standing, walking, stooping, bending, and lifting up to 65 pounds for long periods of time outdoors in all weather conditions. It also includes making important decisions based on size, coloring, and ripeness according to prescribed standards.

This work requires adherence to important food safety and quality standard operating procedures and the ability to work quickly and consistently alongside fellow workers with a positive, professional, team- based attitude and a consideration for the safety and health of fellow workers and of the consumers who will purchase and consume the fresh produce grown, harvested, packed, and shipped from the farm.

Potatoes: Grading will be done by working carefully remove any leaves and defective pieces as defined by grading supervisor as potatoes move across grading belt/tables. Potatoes must be handled carefully to avoid bruises or fingernail cuts. Fillers: workers will bag the graded fruit in paper bags or appropriate containers by hand as necessary according to packing instructions disclosed by the supervisor. Workers will stack paper bags onto pallets once full.

Watermelons: Workers will be required to turn watermelon vines from drive-rows. Instruction will be given for each task and standards of performance communicated to worker. Workers will be assigned a row or series of rows and required to select and pick produce according to criteria outlined and demonstrated by managers such as size, coloring, and ripeness. They will be responsible for in-field grading and discarding of poor quality, rotting, and/or over-ripened produce. Workers will gently load the good quality produce into wagons, taking care to avoid damage or bruising. Workers will unload wagons at the packing shed and place fruit onto a conveyer belt to grade and then pack the fruit into boxes. Workers visually grade harvested produce and remove culls. Workers need to use both hands while grading at all times. Workers pack the graded produce in appropriate containers by hand. Filled boxes and cartons are stacked carefully by prescribed pattern and height onto pallets and secured by netting or tape. Workers may be responsible for planting, picking up trash, cleaning bins and other similar farm sanitation as part of SOPs and SSOPs within Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Good Handling Practices (GHPs), and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for Food Safety.

Cauliflower: Workers will bend and stoop to pick vegetables according to size, color, shape and degree of maturity and place into field containers. Workers must use care when performing their farm work duties and exercise consciousness to not damage or bruise the fruit and vegetables. Workers must adhere to all safety rules as instructed by their supervisors and all farm work operations must meet the standards and specifications given by the employer. Workers will be assigned a row or series of rows and required to select and pick produce according to criteria outlined and demonstrated by managers such as size, coloring, and ripeness. They will be responsible for in-field grading and discarding of poor quality, rotting, and/or over-ripened produce. Workers will gently load the good quality produce into containers, taking care to avoid damage or bruising. Cauliflower will be packed in the field into boxes: Cauliflower boxes should weigh 20lbs (9-12 heads)Workers may carry full container weighing approximately fifty (50) lbs and empty into field bin or load onto trailer.

Special Requirements

None