Farmworkers/laborers

Job description

Specific Job Requirements:
GRAPES/PRUNES/PLUMS/PEAR Harvest: The Worker will hand harvest grapes, prunes, plums, and pears from the ground or a ladder. The Worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and picks low hanging fruit while standing on the ground and higher branches while standing on a ladder. The Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit with the hands and removing from the tree in a motion so as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches. The Worker will carry harness, bucket or bag of up to 60 lbs. and will place fruit into bins, 4x4x3 which hold approximately 25 bushels of fruit. Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. The Worker may be required to examine harvested fruit in bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the grade, color and size specifications. The Worker must possess the ability to pick-up; handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing up to 40 pounds. The worker will specifically not harvest cherries.

TREE TRAINING: Training is a process in which the fruit tree is manipulated to increase yield and/or quality. The Worker must possess ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Training may be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or ladder. Some example training tasks are but not limited to:
• Tying, taping or clipping grapes, or cherry limbs to wires.
• Tying up or down grapes, or cherry limbs.
• Training and limb positioning of grapes and cherry trees.
• Shoot thinning, sucker removal, shoot positioning, hedging, or leaf removal.
• Propping and supporting grapes and cherry trees.

PLANTING TREES/YOUNG TREE CARE: The Worker must possess ability to pick up, handle a young tree weighing 2 ounces up to 10 pounds. Some examples of planting tasks & young tree care are but not limited to:
• Preparing soil,
• Dig holes using machinery (skid steer/auger) or hand tool (shovel)
• Applying Fertilizer
• Set trees in holes and fill the holes using hand tool (shovel)
• Watering trees
• Placing stakes
• Placing tree wraps
• Tree tying
• Install Mylar

Please see addendum C

Special Requirements

*SEE ADDENDUM C
4e) Must be able to lift and/or load 60lbs.
4g) Work may take place when temperatures are below freezing and above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
4h) May require extensive pulling and/or pushing of tools, wheel barrows, fruit containers, etc.
4i) May require worker to sit and/or walk for extensive periods of time while sorting, picking, examining, weeding, transporting, pruning, etc.
4j) Workers will be required to stoop and/or bend over while performing farm labor such as weeding, irrigating, pruning, picking, removing debris, etc. 4k) There will be repetitive movements while performing most of the farm labor duties, for example picking, sorting, pruning, shoveling, weeding, etc.