Farmworker

Job description

The bulk of the work will be harvesting apple trees. In addition, workers may thin apple trees as there are gaps in the 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 picking bags 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. Hand thin to control the size and quality of fruit. Remove fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Must accurately identify and remove misshapen, damaged or otherwise unmarketable fruit. Use manual and mechanized pruning tools and equipment to clear harvest area. Identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches crossing and rubbing against each other, dead wood and shoots-suckers. Place and remove color enhancement fabrics in the orchard before and after harvest.
Workers injured on the job and unable to perform the full range of duties may be offered light duty, if available. Light duty tasks may vary depending on availability of task, nature of worker's injury, and instructions from worker's physician. Light duty tasks may include blight checking, fruit checking/quality control and scanning, light picking/pruning/thinning/sorting, filling deer repellant bags, or tree counting.
Workers musttreat all equipment properly and in a manner that protects operator, others, the employer's products and property. Failure to comply with safety requirementsmay result in disciplinary action up to and including immediate termination. Workers will be around and on equipment and must be alert to safety for themselves and their coworkers.

Occasional work may include: Pick rocks, weed orchards including thorny weeds and vines, and clear fence rows and woods edges. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling,and other manual tasks. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, stem clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload supplies.
Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing work clothing and boots or other durable foot wear. Workers wearing clothing inappropriate for work will not be permitted to start work.
Supervisor(s) will provide instructions and directions to workers. Workers must be able to comprehend and follow instructions and communicate effectively to supervisors. Unusual, complex or non-routine activities will be supervised. Workers expected to perform basic duties in a proficient manner without close supervision.
Workers will use wooden straight ladders up to 20 feet long, metal tripod step ladders up to 12 feet tall, and picking bags that when filled weigh up to 40 pounds. Ladders must be securely placed on the ground and/or in the tree and not break a limb or damage fruit.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a 2 day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the 2 day introductory period if the worker's performance fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable.

Special Requirements

3 month in fruit or vegetable production / harvest Outdoor work required when plants are wet, or during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours may vary. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a workers ability to perform the job. Work is done outdoors for long periods of time and requires prolonged periods of standing and/or walking, repetitive movements, and frequent bending and/or stooping. Workers must be able to handle, lift, and carry heavy or bulky objects (product, containers) up to 50 lbs Work will be done on steep and uneven terrain.