Farm Workers And Laborers, Crop
Employer
6222 Lake Road
Sodus, NY 14551
United States
Job description
Workers will perform assigned duties as instructed by their supervisor. The employer will provide the tools necessary to perform the described job duties at no charge to the worker. Workers will perform general tasks associated with orchard production to include but not limited to: plant, cultivate and harvest fruits, cleaning and maintenance of fields and equipment, and pruning trees. Use hand tools including but not limited to: pruners, shovels, hoes and knives. Pick, cut, lift, or pull crops. Grade, size, and field pack product. Take care to prevent damaging produce and trees. Use/handle ladders up to 20 feet in length and weighing up to 60 pounds. Must be able to maneuver ladders on steep and uneven terrain. Tree training: hoeing, tree painting, tie/position trees and limbs together and to trellises using string, tape, wire, or other fasteners and supports. Thinning: hand thin to control size and quality of fruit. Remove fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Must accurately identify and remove misshapen, damaged, or otherwise unmarketable fruit. Pruning: hand pruning based on fruit variety with the use of manual and mechanized pruning tools and equipment. Identify and remove stubs and broken branches, downward growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood, and shoot-suckers. Harvest: spot and/or strip pick fruit based on seasonal need. Snap fruit off trees with thumb and palm of hand to avoid stem pulls, punctures, bruising or other damage. Pick culls and peelers. Fill fruit buckets and place fruit in bins. Work will include bin patching and tagging. Follow supervisors instructions on color and size requirements. Must be able to differentiate between colors and fruit varieties accurately. Load/unload product. Keep material and product records accurately. Workers may assist with orchard maintenance and repairs, root and rock pickup. Supervisors will explain and demonstrate picking requirements to all workers at the start of the season and as needed thereafter to ensure quality standards. Bruised or damaged fruit will be noted by supervisor(s) in post-inspection quality report. Supervisors may issue written disciplinary notice to workers with a significant number of culls, bruised or damaged fruit. Repeated failure to follow quality control instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Work is done in the field for long periods of time. Workers may assist in handling product weighing up to 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers must work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Work is required in fields when plants are wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures from fields during work hours can range from 10 to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker’s ability to perform the job duties.
Special Requirements
All workers must be 18 years of age or older. The type of work involves working conditions that require tremendous stamina and a high level of physical activity in cold or extremely hot conditions in direct sunlight and in adverse weather such as rain or snow. Due to the type of physical conditioning needed, there is a probationary period of five days beginning with the first day of employment to show possession of the required endurance and strength to perform this type of work. Employer reserves the right to discharge and obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant workers who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the necessary work or for any other lawful reason.