Farm Workers

Job description

Perform manual labor to harvest, grade and pack sweet onions by hand and to plant, transplant, cultivate, harvest, grade and pack leafy greens, sweet corn, and salad onions by hand and machine. Clip top stem and bottom roots off of Vidalia Sweet Onions with shears as instructed by supervisor and fill a five gallon bucket. Lift and dump full five gallon bucket into bin. Pick up any loose or dropped onions and place back into bucket being careful not to drop from a height greater than 8 inches at any time. Harvest salad onions by pulling, using shears to clip tops and bottoms, remove excess dirt, bundle, wrap and place bundles into boxes. Carry and load completed boxes onto moving trailers.

Work in groups to harvest sweet corn by hand pulling and packing corn into crates while riding on a mule train. Walk field ahead of mule train pulling ears that are too low for harvesting from the machine. Make sure that stalk is pulled clean of all ears of correct size and maturity.

Transplant greens. Take transplant, insert into pre-dug holes, and tap soil over root being careful not to damage plant. Harvest greens according to supervisor's instructions by walking down assigned row and cutting greens with a sharp knife being careful not to drop greens nor damage greens or roots. Remove any discolored or defective leaves, place bands around bundles, place into box, carry and load completed boxes onto moving trailers.

Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, shears and knives. Grade, sort, or classify agricultural products by size, weight, color or condition according to factors such as species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell and quality. Discard inferior or defective products and/or foreign matter and place acceptable products in containers for further processing. Weigh products or estimate their weight visually or by feel. Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers. Record grade and/or identification numbers on tags or on shipping, receiving or sales sheets. Workers will make boxes for packing and clean, pack, and load harvested products and count and check products. Workers must use care when harvesting, grading and packing not to damage or bruise produce. Work in groups to plant and harvest crops with trucks and machinery that are moving through the field alongside workers. Clean dirt, foreign matter and unwanted debris from the products. Examine and inspect acceptable products to ensure packing specifications are met and counted while being placed in containers for marketing. Repair fences and farm buildings. Set up and operate irrigation equipment, clear and maintain irrigation ditches and participate in irrigation activities. Weed and thin crops. Operate, repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements and mechanical equipment. Workers are also responsible for farm, field and shed sanitation including picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping floors and other farm and shed sanitation duties. Workers with a valid license and doctor's certificate may transport other workers in vehicles provided and insured by the employer and 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.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break.

Special Requirements

One month of verifiable farmwork experience including planting and harvesting vegetables required. Most job duties require workers to work in extremely hot or wet weather. Work requires repetitive walking, bending, reaching, stooping, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying and loading up to 60 lbs. 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. Negative results are required before starting work.