Farmworkers And Laborers, Crop
Employer
137 68th St.
South Haven, MI 49090
United States
Job description
Harvesting berries by hand, the worker will walk down the berry field rows where the blueberry will be harvested. The worker will place a 1 gallon picking bucket with a strap over his/her shoulder from the field truck to the particular area of the field where the fruit will be harvested. The 1 gallon picking bucket is a canvas, equipped with a shoulder strap for support. Worker positions him/herself in front of the berry tree and will remove the fruit from the tree and place into the 1 gallon picking bucket taking care not to break any limbs, damage the tree, or knock off the fruit. When the 1 gallon picking bucket is full the worker will take it to the truck at the end of the row where the worker will unload the fruit into a small tub or container.
Apples Harvesting: Harvesting apples by hand under supervisor’s instructions, the worker will place a picking sack over the workers’ shoulder and carry an 18’ to 20’ ladder from the field truck to the particular area of the orchard to be harvested. The picking sack is a canvas and metal bag equipped with a shoulder strap for support, an opening for the insertion of fruit, and an opening to remove fruit. A full loaded sack weighs between approximately 35 to 40 pounds, depending upon the size, condition and variety of fruit. Worker positions ladder against the tree and within reach of the fruit in a leaning position, taking care not to break limbs, damage the tree, knock off fruit or interfere with other workers, in a secure position to prevent slipping or falling and possible injury to themselves or other workers. Worker will remove fruit from the tree and place into picking sack taking care to not bruise the fruit and to leave the stems attached to the apples. When pick sack is full take full sack to fruit bin and carefully dump. All fruit will be fresh fruit and must be bruise free.
Apple Packing: Workers tasks related to packing apples include, but not limited to, operating apple grading equipment, labelers and baggers; adjusting, maintaining and cleaning packing machines; folding cardboard containers. Grade and sort by hand, or classify apples by size, weight, color or condition, placing apples by hand into containers, tape, move and stack cartons on pallets. Repair bulk apple bins and pallets. Use hand tools such as: bag taper, stapler, air-hammer, broom and mop. For food and general safety purposes, all workers will be required to follow common sanitary practices, as specified by the employer, at all times. Note: The packing house is located inside the Farm and more than 50% of the product processed is produced by the Fixed Site Employer.
Cucumber Harvesting: The worker will pick the cucumber up from the ground, placing them in a five gallon bucket, once the bucket is full, the worker will take the bucket to the truck and dump the cucumber in the back of the truck.
General Maintenance: Workers on physical work restrictions or when harvesting work is not available may be required to perform miscellaneous clean-up work on work site property, on structures utilized in the work site operation, and on housing for harvesting workers. Such clean-up activities include the sprouting, pruning, and painting of trees; debris, weed, and vine removal; irrigation repair; housing and structure cleaning and repair. The worker in order to perform this kind of work must be able to work outside for at least 6 hours a day in all kinds of weather and be in possession of the requisite physical strength and endurance to repeat the picking process in a timely manner, a one month experience in fruit and vegetable harvesting is required. Workers may be required to drive farm machinery, the employer will provide the tools necessary to perform the described job duties without charge to the worker. The employer will charge the worker for reasonable costs related to the worker’s refusal or negligent failure to return the tools or due to such worker’s willful damage or destruction of the tools
Special Requirements
This type of work, involves working conditions that require tremendous stamina, a high level of physical activity in cold or extremely hot conditions in direct sunlight and in adverse weather such as rain. The work requires a high level of physical conditioning. Due to the type of work involved, there is a Probationary Period of five (5) days beginning with the first day of employment, to show possession of the requisite physical strength and endurance to perform this type of work.