Farmworker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
lettuce, collards, turnips, mustard, kale, spinach, cabbage, peppers, onions, beets, green beans, cilantro and sweet corn, including conventionally and organically raised varieties.
Workers will perform field work associated with vegetable cultivation and harvest including weeding, thinning and transplanting by hand, harvesting/picking and field packing/loading vegetables into containers. Commodities include lettuce, collards, turnips, mustard, kale, spinach, cabbage, peppers, onions, beets, green beans, cilantro and sweet corn, including conventionally and organically raised varieties. Picks, cuts, lifts, or pulls crop to harvest them. Workers must be able to distinguish between vegetable plants and weeds. May assist with irrigation and shovel/clean irrigation ditches. Workers will use hand tools, such as but not limited to hoes and shovels. Once workers have been instructed in food safety rules pertaining to commodity production, compliance with such will be expected. The majority of the work will be performed in the field rather than company's packing sheds but, workers may be asked to work in the packing sheds to sort, pack, ice and load vegetables onto trucks.

Workers must be physically able to perform the work which involves lifting boxes weighing up to 70 pounds to a height of 5 feet, stooping, kneeling and working on their feet for extended periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Workers will assist in loading trucks in the field with boxed product. Some qualified workers will operate a tractor upon need. Workers with an insurable driver's license within 30 days following hire may be required to drive company vehicles, including semi-trucks, within a 50 mile radius of the farm.

Care must be taken to prevent damaging the produce and plants. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers' ability to perform the job. Workers are exposed to wet weather early in the morning through the heat of the day, working in fields. Temperatures may range from 20 to 100 F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations.

Workers will be trained in USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification standards. Failure to abide by GAP standards will be grounds for dismissal.

Employer has a strict prohibition on tobacco usage. No smoking or tobacco use of any kind will be permitted in the fields, in worker housing, or anywhere on company premises. This is necessary to maintain the integrity of the farm's production certification as well as to protect against the Tomato-Tobacco Mosaic Virus disease, which is transmitted by hands and tools contaminated with tobacco by-products. Employer reserves the right to discharge any employee found smoking or found in possession of smoking materials including cigarettes, cigars, snuff, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, marijuana or smoking paraphernalia. Use, possession, transfer, offer, sale or manufacture of marijuana and/or controlled substances strictly prohibited. All work sites are alcohol and drug free work places. Employees must not report for work, enter the employers' property or perform service while under the influence of or having used alcohol, marijuana, illegal controlled substances, or any other substance that may in any way adversely affect their alertness, coordination, reaction or safety. Employer assures that workers will be provided transportation from living quarters to work site every day (for workers who must be provided housing under the applicable regulations.)

Persons seeking employment as experienced Farm Worker must be available for the entire period requested by the employer.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of prior experience working on a diversified vegetable crop farm handling both manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry up to 70 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required at random and post accident.