Farmworkers/laborers

Job description

PEAR/APPLES Harvest: The Worker will hand harvest apples and pears this can be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or a ladder. The Worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and picks low hanging fruit while standing on
the ground and higher branches while standing on a ladder. The 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. The
Worker will carry harness, bucket or bag of up to 20lbs to 60 lbs. and will place fruit into lugs or bins or bucket (4”x4”x3” which hold approximately 25 bushels of fruit).. Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of
branches. The Worker may be required to examine harvested fruit in plastic/wooden bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the grade, color and size specifications. Workers must possess ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing
40 pounds. When using the ladder, worker will exercise caution to ensure ladders is safely set and ready to be used. Worker will check ladders daily for damage and repair upon arrival to designated row. Worker will be assigned designated row by
manager on duty. Worker will check picking bag daily for damage and repair. Worker will wash picking bag at end of every day.
CHERRY Harvest: The Worker will hand harvest cherries, this can be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or a ladder. The Worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit while standing or on a ladder. The
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. The Worker will carry harness, bucket or bag of up to 20 lbs. and will place
fruit into plastic lugs which hold approximately 30 pounds 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 plastic/wooden bins and sort out any
fruit not meeting the grade, color and size specifications. The worker must possess the ability to pick-up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing up to 40 pounds.

THINNING: Thinning is a manual process used to control the size and quality of grown fruit. This process requires the Worker to remove, in some cases not limited to the smallest fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. The Worker 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. Thinning may be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or a ladder, worker must be able to use scissor like clippers. The Worker must possess the ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds.

TRAINING: Training is a process in which the fruit tree is manipulated to increase yield and/or quality and proper fruit load. Training may be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or ladder. The Worker must possess the ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Some example training tasks are but not limited to:
Tying, taping or clipping apple, pears and cherries limbs to wires.
Tying up or down apple, pears and cherries limbs.
Training and limb positioning of apple, pears and cherries trees.
Shoot thinning, sucker removal, cluster thinning, shoot positioning, hedging, or leaf removal.
Propping and supporting apple and pears and cherries trees.
*See Job Duties 1.2

Special Requirements

2) Worker must possess 3 months of tree fruit experience.
4e) Must be able to lift and/or load 60lbs.
4g) Work may take place when temperatures are below freezing and above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
4h) May require extensive pulling and/or pushing of tools, wheelbarrows, fruit containers, etc.
4i) May require worker to sit and/or walk for extensive periods of time while sorting, picking, examining, weeding, transporting, pruning, etc.
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.