Blueberry Field Work, Planting, Harvesting, And Packing

Job description

The worker will perform job duties as assigned by supervisor. They will vary from time to time depending on crop ripening and weather. The blueberry season is temporary and will last from January to November.

In order to perform this kind of work, the worker must be able to work outside 6 to 7 hours a day in all kinds of weather including, but not limited to extreme cold and hot conditions, direct sunlight, and rain and have the required physical strength and endurance to perform the work rapidly and skillfully with their hands. Workers will perform prolonged walking, bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying 0-50 lbs. Due to the nature of this type of work, there will be a Probationary Period of six (6) days beginning on the first day of employment for the employee to acclimate to the job specifications listed under the Job Descriptions and Requirements. The worker will be given specific instructions as to how to properly perform the work specified in the Job Description and Requirements Section on the first day of work. Quality work must be performed and adhered to and no messy work will be permitted. If the worker works by the piece rate he/she must make the federal minimum salary after the Probationary Period. At the end of the first work week, the worker will be evaluated. If the worker does not perform the work as specified under the Job Descriptions and Requirements, he/she may be terminated.

The employer will provide the tools necessary to perform the described job duties without charge to the worker. The employer will charge the worker for reasonable costs related to the workers refusal or negligent failure to return the tools or due to such workers willful damage or destruction of the tools.

Blueberry Planting-The worker will go down the field rows and make a hole using a hole digging tool to plant the blueberry bush according to the specifications given by supervisor. The hole is then covered and topped with mulch if necessary. An irrigation line will be staked beside the bush, so that the necessary water will go into the plant, if necessary.

Field Work- During the contract, the worker will prepare the fields for planting. This will consist of digging trenches, installing, repairing, and replacing ground cloth, installing and repairing irrigation, planting, manual and machine weeding the blueberry plants and surrounding areas, and other miscellaneous work. The fields will be cleaned up after the harvesting in order to prepare for the the next harvesting season.

Application of Pesticides-The worker will be equipped with necessary protective gear and a backpack sprayer. The worker will walk down the field row and spray each plant according to specifications and pesticide given by supervisor.

Manual Application of Fertilizer- The worker will be equipped with necessary protective gear and fertilizing bucket. They will fill the bucket with specified fertilizer and walk down the field row and manually place fertilizer around plant base according to the specifications and fertilizer given by the supervisor.

Manual Pruning-The worker will be given clippers or loppers for pruning. The worker will walk down the field row and prune unnecessary shoots and cut back the blueberry plants to a specified height. The debris will be picked up manually to be disposed of properly.

Machine Hedging-The worker be assigned a tractor with a machine hedger. The worker will drive the tractor down the field row and the machine hedger will hedge the top of the blueberry bush according to the specifications given by the supervisor. The debris will be manually picked up to be disposed of properly.

Staking-Once the blueberry plant reaches a certain height, the worker will drive stakes into the ground on either side of the planted blueberry plant. The worker will then tie a string from one stake to the next on both sides of the blueberry bush to prevent the pot from tipping over as it grows.

Special Requirements

The worker must be responsible and consistent on the job. The worker must be able to lift 0-50 lbs., do repetitive movements, extensive pushing and pulling, walking, frequent stooping continuously throughout the day, and work in all kinds of weather conditions.