General Farm Labor

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Pears.
This job requires a minimum of three months of prior experience working in tree fruit orchards, handling both manual and machine tasks associated with fruit production, pruning activities and showing proficiency with orchard ladder use. Workers must be able to perform all duties with accuracy and efficiency.

The job offered requires that the worker be available for work every day that work is available for the full period of employment. The worker agrees to be available for work and perform the assigned work for the assigned employer whenever work is available through the full period of employment.

Work begins at the assigned time.
Saturday work is required. Sunday work may be offered but is not required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 pounds. -- Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required after a worker has had an accident at work.

This job requires a worker to: Perform general field labor in the field on the farm in order to plant maintain and preserve the plant product abundant and high quality crops. Job duties may vary with regards of the time spent on certain duties.

Work is done in the fields 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 a long periods of time.
Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Work 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. All other duties assigned under this order will be those duties of Farm.

Mow, cut and weed fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Use power equipment including but not limited to: tractors, planters, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chainsaws, high lifts, forklifts, skid loaders. Must operate agricultural equipment safely, with or without direction. Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Dig and maintain ditches. Apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other crop protectants. Mix and apply fertilizers, plant growth chemicals, conditioners, and other plant related treatments at the correct times depending on plant type, growth, climate and crop conditions. Clear debris from fields and clean/maintain farm buildings, structures, equipment and work
areas. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Repair fences.

Planting: Propagate plants by placing buds/scions. Plant seedlings or 'liners' by hand or with a mechanical planter. Clear cull stock, brush and debris. Dig holes and shovel dirt.

Tree Training: hoeing, tree planting, weed mat application. Tie/position trees and limbs, together and to trellises, using string, tape, wire or other fasteners.

Thinning: Hand thin to control the size and quality of fruit. Remove fruit blossom, bud and/or other identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Must accurately identify and remove misshapen, damaged or otherwise unmarketable fruit.

Bagging Asian Pears: Hand bag each individual pear on the branch to control the quality/color of the fruit.

Pruning: Hand pruning based on fruit variety. Use manual and mechanized pruning tools and equipment. Identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots-suckers.

Use/handle ladders up to 12 feet in length and weighing up to 35 pounds.

Harvest: Spot and/or strip pick fruit based on seasonal needs.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of prior experience working in tree fruit orchards, handling both manual and machine tasks associated with fruit production, pruning activities and showing proficiency with orchard ladder use. Workers must be able to perform all duties with accuracy and efficiency. Saturday work is required. Sunday work may be offered but is not required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 pounds. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required after a worker has had an accident at work.