Farmworker /laborer

Job description

Job Description: Under the direction of a crew supervisor, this application encompasses harvest of apples, grapes and cherries as well as thinning, pruning, training and other orchard labor. The worker will perform duties on a motorized platform, from
the ground and/ or utilizing a ladder. The worker must possess the ability to pick-up and handle a 10 12 ft. orchard ladder. All other duties assigned under this order are those of the Farm Worker, Diversified Crops, Standard Occupational Classification (SOC): 45-2092 job under the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The worker will be assigned work by the supervisor and may perform any of the duties herein. Worker will harvest in a safe, effective manner obeying all work and safety rules, being observant of moving equipment, slip and trip hazards and other potentially dangerous situations, reporting some to supervisors. Worker will report all injuries: use safety procedures while sharpening knives and performing job.

Apple Harvest: The worker will hand harvest fruit on a motorized platform, from the ground, and/or utilizing a ladder. The worker will attach the harness, bucket or bag and pick fruit. The worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit with their hands and removing it from the tree in a motion that will not harm buds on tree branches. The worker will carry the harness, bucket or bag of up to 20 lbs. and will place the fruit into lugs. The worker must exercise care at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. Some workers may be tasked with examining harvested fruit in bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the grade, color and size specifications. In some instances Contractor may require or allow more than one employee to pick fruit into a single bin. When more than one worker picks fruit into a single bin, the piece rate for the single bin shall be split evenly amongst all employees contributing to the completion of such bin, regardless of actual contribution. If there are any concerns about whether such contributions are relatively equal, please report to them to your supervisor.

No Ladder Use Apple Harvest: Workers will hand harvest fruit only from the lower-half section of the tree. No ladder will be utilized during this process. The worker will attach the harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit. The worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping the fruit with their hands and removing it from the tree in a motion that will not harm buds on tree branches. The worker will carry the harness, bucket or bag of up to 20 lbs. and will place the fruit into the bin. The worker must exercise care at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches.

Tree Fruit Thinning: The worker will hand thin on a motorized platform, from the ground, and/or utilizing a ladder. The worker will use scissor, like clippers, to remove small fruit blossoms, buds and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. The workers must be able to identify and remove fruit that is misshapen, damaged and/ or contains other quality problem.

Special Requirements

Job Requirements: 3 months of experience working with tree fruit crops.
Cannot be color blind due to the need to distinguish colors of the product, able to use shears, clippers and other agricultural tools, no smoking, illegal drugs, alcohol, or weapons of any sort in the housing or work fields.
Must be able to communicate in English or Spanish as is required for training and safety purposes.
Work is performed outdoors in open fields and can involve exposure to sun, wind, mud, dust, heat, cold and other elements of the normal field environment.
Temperatures can range from 20 degrees F to over 100 degrees F during the period of employment. Workers should come prepared with proper clothing and footwear for the work and working conditions described.
This work may entail exposure to plant pollens, insects, and noxious plants, and to fields and plant materials, which have been treated with insect and/or disease, control sprays.