Farmworker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
fruit and vegetables including, but not limited to, citrus and berries.
Citrus Harvesting: Workers will perform assigned duties as instructed by their supervisor. Following the supervisors instructions, the worker will place a picking sack over their shoulder and carry an 18' to 20' ladder from the field truck to the particular area of the grove to be harvested. The picking sack is a canvas bag equipped with a shoulder strap for support, an opening for the insertion of fruit, and an opening to remove fruit. A fully loaded sack weighs between approximately 80 and 100 pounds, depending upon the size, condition and variety of fruit. Worker positions ladder against the tree and within reach of the fruit in a leaning position, taking care not to break limbs, damage the tree, knock off fruit, or interfere with other workers, in a secure position to prevent slipping or falling and possible injury to themselves or other workers. Worker will remove fruit from the tree and place into pick sack. When pick sack is full take to fruit tub located in the grove and drop fruit pick sack into tub. In order to perform this kind of work, worker must be able to work outside for at least 6 hours a day in all kinds of weather and be in possession of the requisite physical strength and endurance to repeat the picking process rapidly, working quickly and skillfully with their hands, and carrying a large number of sacks of fruit from the area in which the fruit is being harvested to the location of the tub.

Grove Clean-Up: Workers will be required to perform miscellaneous grove clean-up work. These activities include pruning, painting trees, and repair and/or replace irrigation equipment, removal of debris, and another general grove clean-up work as required. May be necessary to assist in the use of farm equipment such as tractors, trucks and harvest machinery, etc. It may also be required to drive a tractor in the field from time to time.

Hand-Harvesting Raspberries: Each worker will be assigned a picking badge for identification to the workers employment number. The worker will keep the picking badge throughout the workday. Each worker must place a pre-printed numeric sticker to each box. The numeric sticker roll will be assigned to the worker by the supervisor. Workers will move down to the assigned rows picking all ripe berries, grading berries in the field while harvesting, taking care to sort by size, shape, color, quality, and quantity as directed by the supervisor. Each worker must pick the plants clean of all ripe fruit, sort all good berries into specified containers within the box, according to very high-quality standards set forth in the company food safety policy and standard operating procedures. Bad berries will be disposed of as determined the by the supervisor. Each worker shall handle berries carefully to avoid bruising. Bruising will weaken the berry. Each harvesting worker is expected to move with the crew from row to row to maintain the efficiency level. Upon completion of each box picked, the worker will take his/her completed box to the crate shed to be viewed for grade, palletized and receive credit on his/her picking badge. Upon completion of the assigned row, the worker will move to the next vacant row to be picked. Harvester may receive disciplinary notice if quality continues to be an issue. At the end of the workday, workers will keep picking badge for the next workday.

Hand-Harvesting Strawberries: Each worker will be assigned a picking badge for identification to the workers employment number. The worker will keep the picking badge throughout the workday. Each worker must place a pre-printed numeric sticker to each box. The numeric sticker roll will be assigned to the worker by the supervisor.

Special Requirements

Jobs are offered working on a fruit and/or vegetable farm handling manual and mechanized tasks associated with commodity production. Workers must be able to perform manual and mechanized tasks with accuracy and efficiency. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 100 lbs. Employer-paid pre-employment and post-hire drug testing required. Criminal background check required.