Farmworker/laborer

Job description

This job requires a minimum of three months of prior commercial agricultural employment experience, handling both manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities. Workers must be able to perform all duties with accuracy and efficiency.

Mow, cut, and weed fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Use power equipment including but not limited to: tractors, planters, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chain saws, high lifts, forklifts, skid loaders. Must operate agricultural equipment safely, with or without direction. Apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Mix and apply fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant-related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate, and crop conditions. Assist with farm building /field maintenance and repairs. Assist with equipment maintenance and minor repairs. Build /repair fences.

Planting: Propagate plants by placing buds/scions. Plant seedlings or 'liners' by hand or with mechanical planter. Clear cull stock, brush, and debris. Dig holes and shovel dirt. Tree Training: hoeing, tree painting, and weed mat application. Tie/position trees and limbs, together and to trellises, using string, tape, wire or other fasteners and supports.

Thinning: Hand thin to control the size and quality of fruit. Remove fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Must accurately identify and remove misshapen, damaged or otherwise unmarketable fruit.

Pruning: Hand pruning based on fruit variety. Use manual and mechanized pruning tools and equipment. Identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots-suckers. Use/handle ladders up to 12 ft. in length or perform work on motorized platform.

Harvest: Spot and/or strip pick fruit based on seasonal need. Snap fruit off tree with thumb and palm of hand to avoid stem pulls, punctures, bruising, or other damage. Pick culls and peelers. Fill fruit buckets and place fruit in bins. Follow supervisor/foreman's instructions on color/size requirements. Must be able to differentiate between colors and fruit varieties accurately.

Cherries: Hand pick fruit leaving stems attached. Place harvested fruit at bottom of basket/bucket. Avoid stem pulls, punctures, bruising, or other damage. Identify defects (bird pecks, limb rubs, splits, sunburn) and other damage. Follow supervisor/foreman's instructions on fruit quality. Must be able to differentiate between colors and sizes accurately.

Workers can also:
1. Drive tractors
2. Spray and mix chemicals and fertilizers
3. Operate trucks & vans to carry farm equipment, crops and Farmworkers 4.Perform general repair of agricultural equipment.
5. Pack crops into containers.

Special Requirements

B.2 Workers must have 3 months work experience in tree fruit.
Please see Addendum C:Section B.2/B.4 Additional Job Qualifications