Farmworker; Diversified 45-2092.00

Job description

Worker must possess the physical strength and endurance (ability to continue or last) to repeat the harvest process though out the workday, working quickly and skillfully to perform activities assigned during that activity. Workers must work at a sustained (continuing for an extended period of time without interruption), vigorous pace (quick and steady) and make bona fide efforts (made in earnest intent) to work efficiently (performing or functions in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort) and consistently (same way for a long time) that are reasonable under the climatic and other working conditions, Workers may not leave trash, or other discarded items in work areas or vehicles but must dispose of such items in provided receptacles. Workers must wash hands with soap and water after all bathroom and meal breaks. Allergies to varieties of ragweed, goldenrod, insecticides, related agricultural chemicals, etc., may affect worker’s ability to perform the work described herein.

Sanitation Requirements: For food and general personal safety purposes, all workers will be required and expected to follow common sanitary practices at all times. This is particularly critical when hand harvesting crops for human consumption. Employees are required to cleanse their hands by washing them thoroughly with soap and water after using the bathroom and before entering the fields for harvest activities or the packing facility for packing operations.

Workers will plant, cultivate and harvest crops named in this job order. Workers will be responsible for preparation of field beds, assisting in installation of drip irrigation and black plastic. Workers will operate various farm equipment including trucks and tractors. Workers may also perform duties as a working crewleader. Workers will perform these duties while working with the other seasonal workers.

Sweet Corn, Watermelons, Cantaloupe, Pumpkins, Ornamental Gourds, Corn, & Tomatoes: Workers will plant, cultivate and harvest vegetables. Workers will perform transplanting of seedlings into prepared plant beds. Workers will be required to remove weeds by hand or with a hoe. Workers will bend and stoop to pick vegetables according to size, color, shape and degree of maturity and place into field containers. Workers may carry full container weighing approximately fifty (50) lbs. and empty into field bin or load onto trailer. May be required to pull and discard culls as directed by supervisor. Pickers will take care not to bruise or scar produce. Pre-harvest activities may include staking, tying, transplanting, and pruning. Workers will stand on feet for long periods of time. Workers are required to work in fields when plants are wet with dew or rain. Temperatures in fields during working hours can range from forty (40) to over one hundred (100) degrees.

Hay or Straw: Workers will plant, cultivate, and harvest hay or straw. Workers must load bales weighting up to 60 lbs. from farm to tractor-trailers balesvia a conveyor. Stacks hay on conveyor and restack in trailer according to instructions. Hay harvested is dropped at end of conveyor. Using hay hooks, worker places bales on conveyor while other workers in the barn stack hay in hay/mow according to direction. Hay and straw harvested averages about 2500 bales per day.

Field Maintenance Workers will be responsible for general field preparation and clean up. Workers will prepare the field for planting, including tilling, laying rows, setting up and moving irrigation pipe and laying plastic mulch. At the end of the season the works will perform post-harvest field clean up including removing plastic mulch. Workers will set up irrigation system, move, and take down irrigation system at the end of the season.

Special Requirements

Must have three months experience hand harvesting a perishable crop. Must be physically able to meet and perform all job specifications stated in job order. Must be able to work in the hot humid weather for extended periods of time. Workers are subject to random drug testing at no cost to the employee. Failing or refusing a drug test will result in immediate termination.