Farmworker/laborer

Job description

Job requires worker to complete tasks in pruning/training trees, tree planting, field preparation, orchard clearing, support system building, hand thinning, orchard maintenance, harvest, tractor driver during harvest.

Pruning: Worker will prune numerous varieties of apple trees according to established company procedures based on difference in treatment of different varieties. Worker performs pruning on trees for long periods of time using variety of pruning equipment including hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws, and 10-foot ladders. Pruning and thinning may be done from ground or up to 10 feet ladder or from motorized platform. Worker may be required to selectively prune only certain size and color trees as instructed by Employer.
Worker must possess or acquire pruning skills in order to identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches which rub against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots/suckers with hand pruning saws and hand clippers, mechanized equipment in pruning activities.
Pay will be hourly.

Tree Planting: Worker will unbundle trees and at all times handled with care as not to break and damage young trees. Worker will plant trees mechanically with a planter and by hand. Worker will ride the mechanical planting machine and place plants in holes as the machine moves along the row. Worker will adjust tree graft union height by pulling the tree until it is at specified height determined by specially marked measurement stick. Worker will straighten tree and compact soil around tree.
Worker will assist in planting new fruit trees. Worker will use a hand-shovel to dig hole and carefully plant replacement trees in orchard block(s) that are already established. Worker will prune newly planted trees per the direction of the owner/operator.
Pay will be hourly.

Orchard Clearing: Worker will conduct tasks associated with the process of clearing old orchard ground from trees and loose, exposed, broken roots and rocks. Worker may use a tractor and chains to pull out tree material. Worker may use hand pruners or chain saw to reduce tree to a manageable size. A tractor and trailer will be used to pick up and transport waste material to a location on the farm for disposal.
Pay will be hourly.

Special Requirements

Experience Requirement: 2 verifiable months tree fruit experience required. Applicants must furnish job references from employers of the last 5 years establishing acceptable prior experience.

Season Commitment: Job offered requires worker be available for and worker agrees to work every day that work is available for entire employment period.

Worker must be able to perform job description duties in safe manner consistent with established safety procedures.

Drug testing may be required if worker is involved in workplace injury resulting in damage to property or injury to others. Worker agrees to testing as a condition of employment. Testing done at employers expense and not utilized as a pre-employment tool.

Worker must possess requisite physical strength and endurance to repeat harvest process throughout workday. Worker must work at sustained pace and make good faith efforts to work efficiently as reasonable under working conditions.