Farmworker / Laborer

Job description

CHERRY Harvest: Worker will hand harvest cherries. Worker will carry a bucket attached with a harness and pick low hanging fruit while standing or on a ladder. Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit with the hands and removing from the tree in a motion so
as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches. Worker will pick into the bucket weighing up to 20 lbs. when full. Worker will transfer fruit into plastic lugs which hold approximately 30 pounds of fruit or bins, 4x4x1.3, weighing approximately 300 lbs. when full. Care must be exercised at all times to pick the fruit with stems and prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches or fruit spurs.

APPLES Harvest: Worker will hand harvest apples. Worker will carry a bucket or bag attached with a harness and pick low hanging fruit while standing on the ground, and higher branches while standing on a ladder. Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit with the hands and remove from the tree in a motion so as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches. Worker will place the fruit in the bucket or bag weighing up to 30 lbs. when full, and transfer the fruit into bins, 4x4x 2.5 which hold approximately 25 bushels of fruit. Care must be
exercised at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. Some workers may be required to examine harvested fruit in bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the grade, color and size specifications.

PEAR Harvest: Worker will hand harvest pears. Worker will carry a bucket or bag attached with a harness and pick low hanging fruit while standing on the ground, and higher branches while standing on a ladder. Workers will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit with the hands and remove from the tree in a motion so as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches. Worker will place the fruit in the bucket or bag weighing up to 40 lbs. when full, and transfer the fruit into bins, 4x4x2.5 which hold approximately 25 bushels of fruit. Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. Some workers may be required to examine harvested fruit in bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the grade, color and size specifications.

BLUEBERRY Harvest: Worker will spend time bending and crouching while hand harvesting blueberries at locations indicated by supervisor. Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. Workers will pick blueberries from bushes and place the blueberries in buckets attached to the body. Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping the berries with fingers and remove the berries so as to not harm the adjacent berries and buds, or bruise the picked berry.

THINNING: Thinning is a manual process used to control the size and quality of grown fruit. Must possess ability to pick up, handle a 10-12 foot orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Thinning may also be done from the ground or a motorized platform. This process requires the employee to remove, in some cases but not limited to the smallest fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Workers will be expected to be able to identify and remove fruit that is misshapen, damaged and/or with other quality problems as directed by supervisors.

Special Requirements

2) Worker must possess 3 months of tree fruit experience.
4e) Must be able to lift and/or load 50 lbs.
4g) Work may take place when temperatures are below freezing and above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
4h) May require extensive pulling and/or pushing of tools, wheelbarrows, fruit containers, etc. will be removed
4j) Workers will be required to stoop and/or bend over while performing farm labor such as weeding, irrigating, pruning, picking, removing debris, etc.
4k) There will be repetitive movements while performing most of the farm labor duties, for example picking, sorting, pruning, shoveling, weeding, etc.