Farm And Orchard Workers

Job description

Perform manual labor to plant, cultivate and harvest strawberries, apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, grapes, blackberries, tomatoes, beans, zucchini, squash, corn, peas, watermelons, cantaloupe, and pumpkins. On-going orchard maintenance including thinning and pruning fruit trees. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, pneumatic hand pruners and knives. Duties may include tilling soil, applying fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, transplanting, weeding, and cutting and hauling plant debris. Harvest crops by hand. Count and check produce in the field. Carry containers of harvested product and place onto a vehicle that is moving through the field or orchard along with workers. Workers will walk orchard carrying ladder from tree to tree to thin and prune. Workers will be assigned rows of trees and must prune and thin each tree as shown by the field supervisor. Limbs must not be torn from the tree, nor should limbs be completely stripped of leaves. Proper spacing as instructed is required when thinning, as well as which fruits are to be left or removed. Only specified fruit is to be picked as instructed and desirable fruit should not be left on the tree, dropped or removed from ground. Workers must have a general understanding of how pruning affects competition with fruiting wood and how thinning is done to provide nutrition to the developing fruit. Improper pruning can cause problems with fruit load, fruit size, disease severity, and overall production. While thinning, workers will pluck by hand as instructed. Proper spacing and selection of fruit is critical to maximize the tree's potential yield. Workers will hand harvest fruits by climbing ladder and picking all fruit of correct size, shape, color and maturity as instructed. Fruit must be handled carefully to avoid bruises or fingernail cuts. Workers may not leave any appropriate product on the tree during harvesting. Plant trees as needed to replace dead trees. Clean and load harvested products. Install or remove stakes, wire, netting or string. Set up and operate sprinkler systems. Operate, repair and maintain farm vehicles and equipment. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Identify plants, pests and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields and costs. Apply pesticides and herbicides. May assemble trellises, repair fences, and farm buildings. Clean and maintain work areas. As a minor activity ride horseback and tend to livestock including: herd livestock to pasture for grazing; examine livestock to detect diseases and injuries; assist with herding livestock into corral and/or stall or manually restraining animal on the range; assist with vaccinations, castration, clipping identifying notches on or branding livestock; applying medicine to cuts and bruises and spray cattle with insecticide; set up and move corrals; assist in pulling calves from cows that need help with birthing; load and unload feed sacks; maintain and repair bush hog banks/ levees; and bale hay. Workers who have a valid driver's license and doctor's certificate may drive transportation vehicles to transport workers and may be offered additional hours. Assist with Good Agricultural Practices policies.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Special Requirements

Three months horticultural pruning and thinning and fruit orchard experience required. Repetitively stoop, bend, push, pull, sit and walk, cut and haul plant debris, lift and carry up to 50 lbs, reach overhead for extended periods of time while using an 8 ft. ladder, and work outdoors in extremely hot, cold and/or wet weather. Employer is a drug-free workplace. Drug testing is conducted post-hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process. Must be 18 years or older.