Citrus Harvesters (#3)

Job description

Lemon, Minneola, Mandarin, Oranges, and Grapefruit harvesters to perform the following duties:

Workers will harvest citrus (lemons, minneola, oranges, mandarin oranges, and grapefruit) by hand and by mechanical aid. Workers will also prune, irrigate, and perform grove maintenance.

Agricultural equipment operator (forklift) loading and unloading citrus bins from trailer and place bins throughout orchard for harvest. Employee must conduct daily maintenance check prior to operating tractor/machine. Required to have basic knowledge of driving a forklift, must pass forklift safety training and demonstrate ability to operate tractor/machine/forklift in a safe manner.

The employer will provide training, the forklift driver certification, and all costs will be responsibility of the employer. Training will be provided by the area supervisor who holds a forklift trainer certificate. The supervisor will conduct training at the worksites on the first day of work. Once the training is completed, the employer will issue the certificate to the employees.

Workers may occasionally and/or sporadically perform duties associated with and directly related to the primary duties. Such work will be temporary and unsubstantial agricultural labor.

Bus Driver Specifications:

1. Driver may drive over the road in passenger vans or buses with a GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) capacity of more than 26,000 pounds.
2. Driver will drive designated vans or buses to transport harvest crew workers to and from housing and worksite locations.
3. Driver will be responsible for filling bus or van with fuel and keeping vehicle clean.
4. Driver will be required to complete and process periodic driving reports as required by state laws.
5. Driver will be required to follow all California traffic laws and if applicable, vanpool rules.
6. Drivers must possess a valid authorized driver’s license and must be able to pass DOT (Department of Transportation) recognized medical exam and fulfill all other DOT requirements.
7. The employer will pay for all required licensing and training.

Drivers are compensated for these activities.

All employees in this position (H-2A as well as corresponding domestic workers), will be given the opportunity to obtain a driver’s license or commercial driver’s license (DL or CDL) and register as an FLCE driver on a voluntary basis. The DL or CDL and FLCE Certificate are not a pre-hire job requirement. No job applicant will be denied an employment opportunity due to a lack of a DL, CDL or FLCE Certificate at the time of application and/or hiring. Further, no worker (H-2A or corresponding domestic worker) will be terminated for failure to obtain a DL, CDL or FLCE Certificate.

Special Requirements

Requirements: 1 month of citrus harvest experience. Cannot be color blind due to the need to distinguish colors of crops for proper ripeness and maturity, able to use shears, clippers and other agricultural tools, no smoking, illegal drugs, alcohol, or weapons of any sort in the housing or work fields. Ability to communicate in English or Spanish is required for training and safety purposes. Work is performed outdoors in open fields and can involve exposure to sun, wind, mud, dust, heat, cold and other elements of the normal field environment. Temperatures can range from 20 degrees F to over 100 degrees F during the period of employment. Workers should come prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear for the work and working conditions described.

See Addendum C.