Farmworkers And Laborers, Nursery, Greenhouse

Job description

Harvest fruits and field crops. Use tools such as picking sack, ladders, pruners, hand pruners, loppers, hydraulic pruners, or chainsaws.
Pruning – Pruning numerous varieties of apples trees according to established company procedures based on difference in treatment of different varieties. Workers perform pruning on trees for extended periods of time using variety of pruning equipment including hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws, and 12-foot ladders. Pruning may be done from the ground or up to 12-foot ladder or from motorized platform. Workers may be required to selectively prune only certain size and color trees as instructed by Employer. Workers must possess or acquire pruning skills to identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches which rub against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood, and shoots/suckers with hand pruning saws and clippers, mechanized equipment in pruning activities.
Farm Equipment Operation – Workers may be required to operate a 50hp or smaller tractor and other farm equipment during field operations incidental to the production of the crop. Before any worker is required to operate any farm equipment, the worker will be instructed in the proper and safe operation of a 50hp or smaller tractor and applicable equipment. Workers may be required to operate a tractor and engage in general tractor work, including but not limited to transporting, pulling, pushing, tillage, and the loading and unloading of product. Workers will be required to operate equipment according to instructions and in a safe manner that protects the operator, other workers, trees, crops, and equipment. Failure to obey operating and safety instructions will result in progressive disciplinary action.
Workers will complete harvest preparation including rolling bins into blocks by hand. Workers will load and unload empty bins by hand and place in orchard and clean up garbage around orchard.

APPLES HAND HARVEST - Workers will harvest apples by hand and carry a picking bag while standing on the ground and on a ladder for higher branches or on a motorized platform. Workers carry a harness, bucket or bag up to 60 lbs. and places fruit into 18-bushel wooden bins. Workers may be required to roll bin to proper location and set properly on the ground. Significantly bruised, damaged or cull fruit may result in progressive disciplinary action. Workers will harvest apples using one of three methods, according to supervisor instructions, which can vary based on market demands and crop maturity:
1. Strip Picking – Worker will hand harvest apples on the tree by picking every apple on the tree regardless of color, size, or grade. Worker picks by grasping fruit with hands and removing from tree in motion not to harm adjacent buds on other branches.
2. Color, Size, Grade Picking – Worker will hand harvest apples on the tree by only picking apples that meet the color, size or grade that the market requires at the time of harvest. Worker must pick all fruit on the tree that meets color, size, grade, and quality standards.
3. Stem Clip Picking – Worker will hand harvest apples on the tree that meet grade, size, and color of market conditions and will harvest by holding the apples with one hand and carefully and safely cut the stem of the apples using hand shears.

Special Requirements

Two-month experience in manually Planting, Cultivating, Harvesting, and packing fruits, horticultural specialties, and field crops such as: apples. The employer may conduct a criminal background check on all new applicants for employment. The employer may also conduct drug/alcohol testing if reasonable suspicion that worker is under influence at work, when worker suffers injury and requires medical attention or regulatory agency reporting either while on duty or while on Employers work premises. Testing may also be required if worker is involved in workplace injury resulting in damage to property or injury to others. (Owner's Expense) All tools, supplies, and equipment will be provided at no cost to workers. Workers may be offered more than the standard hours of work in a single workday. Workers may volunteer to work additional hours when work is available. Hours of work may increase/decrease depending on crop yield and or weather and can oc