Farm Workers

Job description

Plant, cultivate, harvest, grade and pack cabbage, napa cabbage, squash, hard squash, sweet corn, eggplant, green beans, broccoli, and bell peppers by hand. Plant, cultivate and harvest cotton and peanuts by machine. When harvesting sweet corn, workers will either be walking behind a moving trailer while pulling sweet corn off the stalk and tossing up into trays on the trailer; driving the mule train equipment; assembling boxes; packing corn into boxes; tying and pushing the packed boxes down the trailer; closing the lid of the packed boxes; or loading the boxes onto the back of the trailer. When harvesting cabbage and napa cabbage, workers will either be walking behind a moving trailer, bending and reaching while using a knife to cut at the base of the head of the mature cabbage and tossing it up into trays on the trailer; packing the cut cabbage into boxes on the trailer; pushing the packed boxes down rollers; or stacking and loading 50 lb. packed boxes. When harvesting squash, hard squash, eggplant, green beans, or bell pepper, workers will either be walking behind a moving trailer, bending and reaching while using a knife to cut the mature squash off the vine and placing them into 10-gallon buckets; packing the squash into boxes on the trailer; pushing the packed boxes down rollers; or stacking and loading boxes.

Determine maturity level of produce quickly and consistently by color, feel, appearance and size and apply correct defect tolerance, handling and harvest standards as instructed by supervisor. Make sure that plants are picked clean of all produce of correct size and maturity according to supervisors' instructions being careful not to bruise or damage produce. Work in groups to harvest crops with agricultural equipment that is moving through the field along with workers while being careful not to damage crops. Clean, grade, sort, pack and stack produce by size, weight, color or condition, and count, check and load harvested products of up to 50 lbs. in fields or at the packing shed.

Use hand tools such as shovels, hoes, tampers and knives. Pull weeds and apply herbicides, fertilizers and pesticides to crops. Till soil, lay and remove plastic and drip irrigation tape. Set up, operate, repair and maintain irrigation equipment. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs. Clean work areas. Minor activities may include: repairing fences or farm buildings; operating, repairing and maintaining farm vehicles, tractors, and/or tractor-drawn machinery to cultivate and harvest crops; and tending to cattle. Workers with a valid license and doctors' certificate may transport other workers in vehicles provided and insured by the employer and be offered additional hours. Assist with Good Agricultural Practices policies. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honeybees, 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. All workers will be subject to a two-day introductory period during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker if the employer reasonably finds worker's performance during the introductory period to be unacceptable. 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.

Special Requirements

Three months of verifiable farm work experience required. Equal Opportunity Employer. All positions identified in this job order are open to all applicants regardless of race, national origins or ethnicity. All persons are encouraged to apply. When the packing shed is in operation, packing shed positions are open to all applicants. Walk, bend, reach, push, lift, carry and load up to 50 lbs. repetitively. Work is outdoors in extremely hot and/or wet weather. 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.