Field Worker

Job description

Field Workers: to perform the following duties on all row crop vegetables.

Mechanical Vegetable Harvest  

Positions: Sorters, Machine Operators, Box / Tote Makers, Tractor Drivers, Stackers/Loaders, General Labor 

Under the direction of the supervisors or crew boss, a General Labor field worker walks in uneven furrows in front of the machine cleaning out beds to ensure quality of product. Field workers (Sorters) stand on top of a machine and sort machine-harvested product for quality and debris as it falls into totes on a conveyor. Tote makers ride on trailer next to harvest machine assembling cardboard boxes or plastic totes. Tractor drivers and machine operators run equipment such as tractors, harvest machinery and forklifts. Stackers/Loaders receive full totes from harvest machine and stack and secure on pallets of finished product.  

Transplant: 

Field workers to perform the following duties: Field workers work on the transplanting machine platform and/or walk on uneven furrows behind a transplanting machine. As the machine moves, the workers working on the machine platform manually load trays of product into the transplanting machine to be inserted automatically by the machine into the soil. As the machine moves forward, under the direction of the field supervisor, the workers walking behind the machine on uneven furrows and have to carry trays of product.  As field worker walk, they have to look for gaps not filled in by the transplanting machine. If there are gaps or product not transplanted correctly by the machine, the field worker has to manually grab the product from tray, the workers then bend at the waist and inserts (plants it) in the bed (on soil). 

Bell Pepper 

Harvesting of bell pepper: This job requires the employee to work in an open field following behind the bell pepper belt and picking matured, ripened bell peppers by placing them in a bucket and dumping the peppers onto the harvesting belt. Harvesting bell peppers is a process in which the bell pepper is picked from the vine, leaving the stem attached. Employee must ensure that the picked bell peppers are fully matured and ripened.  Employee must be able to pick bell peppers; lift a plastic bucket; separate, lift and grasp; safely walk on an uneven ground in different parts of the field to perform the work. 

Pumpkin Ground Harvest: 

Field worker to harvest Pumpkins. Under the direction of the field Supervisor, the worker walks in uneven furrows. Using a harvesting knife and bending at the waist, the employee cuts the pumpkin from the stem and places it on a different furrow on the ground where it will be left sitting for about 3 to 4 days until it is ready to be harvested. Once pumpkin is ready, employee, under the direction of the field Supervisor, walks in uneven furrows determines size and quality of the pumpkin, picks the pumpkin using his hands and places it into a bin. Cycle repeats.

Special Requirements

Requirements: 3-month row crop cleaning experience and harvesting experience to avoid crop damage and personal injury. Written verification of experience is required. Must be able to use shears, clippers, hoe, and other agricultural tools, no smoking, illegal drugs, alcohol, or weapons of any sort in the housing or work fields. Ability to communicate in English or Spanish is encouraged for training and safety purposes. Workers must be able to physically perform the work stated herein.