Farm Labor

Job description

The farm work position includes duties associated with the harvesting and field packing of fruits and vegetables. This work can require standing, walking, stooping, bending, and lifting up to 65 pounds for long periods of time outdoors in all weather conditions. It also includes making important decisions based on size, coloring, and ripeness according to prescribed standards.

This work requires adherence to important food safety and quality standard operating procedures and the ability to work quickly and consistently alongside fellow workers with a positive, professional, team- based attitude and a consideration for the safety and health of fellow workers and of the consumers who will purchase and consume the fresh produce grown, harvested, packed, and shipped from the farm.

Cabbage: Workers will be assigned a row or series of rows and required to select and cut/pick produce according to criteria outlined and demonstrated by managers such as size, coloring, and ripeness.They will be responsible for in-field grading and discarding of poor quality, rotting, and/or over-ripened produce. Workers will gently load the good quality produce into containers, taking care to avoid damage or bruising. Workers may drive tractors, trucks and forklifts as Cabbage is field packed and loaded and transported from field in containers weighing 50lbs – 54lbs.

Kale and Greens (Collards, Turnip, Mustard): Workers will be assigned a row or series of rows and required to select and pick produce according to criteria outlined and demonstrated by managers such as size, coloring, and ripeness. They will be responsible for in-field grading and discarding of poor quality, rotting, and/or over-ripened produce. Workers will gently load the good quality produce into containers, taking care to avoid damage or bruising. Workers will remove weeds manually either by hand or with a hoe. Kale and greens will be packed in the field 12 bunches to 24 bunches in each box. Boxes need to weigh 24lbs. Workers will cut mature greens using knife as specified by employer. Products will be placed into sacks or boxes and placed on trailer for transport. Workers may grade products removing bad or damaged leaves and repack for shipment. Workers will be required to stay on their assigned row. Workers must take care not to damage surrounding plants during harvest.

Broccoli,Squash, Pepper, Cucumber Pumpkins and Corn: Workers will bend and stoop to pick vegetables according to size, color, shape and degree of maturity and place into field containers whether bags or boxes. Workers must use care when performing their farm work duties and exercise consciousness to not damage or bruise the produce. Workers must adhere to all safety rules as instructed by their supervisors and all farm work operations must meet the standards and specifications given by the employer. Workers will be assigned a row or series of rows and required to select and pick produce according to criteria outlined and demonstrated by managers such as size, coloring, and ripeness. They will be responsible for in-field grading and discarding of poor quality, rotting, and/or over-ripened produce. Workers will gently load the good quality produce into containers, taking care to avoid damage or bruising. Corn will be packed in the field into boxes: Squash packed into ½ bushel box. Bell Peppers/Cucumber will be picked into a 3/8 bucket. Workers may carry full container weighing approximately fifty (50) lbs and empty into field bin or load onto trailer. Broccoli boxes should weigh 30 lbs.