Blueberry Planting, Harvesting, Packing, And Field Work

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 February to June.

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 0-100 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 install grow bags filled with compressed potting mixture beside the irrigation line. The worker will place the grow bags in a row 3 to 5 inches apart. The irrigation line will be staked on top of the grow bag, so that the necessary water will go into the grow bag and expand and loosen the potting mixture until there is no compressed mixture left in the grow bag . The worker will then take their hand and make a hole to plant the blueberry plant and then cover the space around the plant with the potting mixture so that
no air pockets. The same process will be followed until all of the blueberry plants have been planted. After a few weeks of growing and the blueberry plants have been given time to establish, the worker will go down the field rows and place a plastic base under each pot, so that it is not touching the ground cover.

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, setting up grow bags filled with potting mixture, 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. The worker will be trained to coordinate pesticide activities by computer. Some Application of Pesticides may take place during night hours.

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. The worker will be trained to coordinate fertilizing activities by computer.

Special Requirements

The worker must be responsible and consistent on the job. The worker must be able to lift 0-100 lbs., do repetitive movements, extensive pushing and pulling, walking, frequent stooping continuously throughout the day, and work in all kinds of weather conditions.