Farmwokers

Job description

Pull weeds/chop: Workers will walk along rows as specified by employer and remove weeds and grass from fields by hand or using a hoe. Prune/shear field-grown blueberry plants and muscadine grapes. Hand-harvest strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, grape tomatoes, muscadine grapes, melons and multiple vegetable crops. Duties may include cleaning, grading, sorting, field packing and loading harvested fruit and vegetables. DUTIES DO NOT INCLUDE PACKING BLUEBERRIES IN BLUEBERRY PACKING SHED. May pack grape tomatoes, bell pepper, long green cucumber, eggplant, melons, or peppers in packing shed. May remove core or seeds from bell pepper by hand in warehouse. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities. May deliver fruit and vegetables produced on the farm (in its unmanufactured state) to storage or to market or to a carrier for transportation to market. May operate and perform minor maintenance on farm vehicles or equipment. May enter customer order data and prepare invoices. Though not a hiring requirement, if a worker drives a company vehicle during the period of employment then at the time of operating the company vehicle the driver must possess a valid driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or foreign equivalent and operate the company vehicle in accordance with the license restrictions and vehicle classifications applicable to that license. Field grade, sort, or classify berries by size, weight, color, or condition. Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. Must not hinder another worker’s productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Requires one month verifiable farmworker experience in the crop activities listed. Must commit to work entire contract period.

Strawberries: Workers will help install black plastic and drip irrigation on rows in field being careful to cover all exposed edges of plastic cover with soil and be careful not to tear or punch holes in plastic. This is done under extremely hot conditions. Workers may be asked to utilize implements associated with the installation of the plastic row covers incidental to performing required tasks on the ground. Workers will plant strawberry plants in pre-punched holes on the plastic covered rows being careful to place the strawberry plants at the same depth in the soil as they grew in the nursery. Workers will remove weeds from around the plants and from the row middles. Workers will bend and stoop to pick strawberries according to size, color, shape and degree of maturity and place into field containers. Workers will be expected to pick fully ripe strawberries, discard any cat-faced, deformed, decayed or undersized berries according to supervisor's instructions. Also, workers must carefully remove any undesirable berries from plant that would later cause fungi to attack the plant. Workers may carry full container weighing approximately twenty-five (25) lbs. and empty into field bin or load onto trailer. In some instances workers will be expected to fill a 4-quart/one gallon plastic pail, carefully filling the pail to capacity. Buckets must be full for correct measure and weight.

Special Requirements

Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. Must not hinder another workers productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Requires one month verifiable farmworker experience in the crop activities listed. Must commit to work entire contract period.