Field Workers (citrus, Dates & Olives) & Citrus Forklift...

Job description

Field Workers - Citrus, Dates, and Olives:

Heavy labor of harvesting citrus, olives and dates as per color and size requirements. Climbing regular and 3-point ladder as needed to pick fruit. Employees will be using proper shears for picking citrus. Cutting, not pulling, the citrus with hand shear; Putting fruit into fruit sack, which is carried on the front of the body, with straps around the shoulder and back for support. Sack full of fruit can weigh up to 50 lbs. The sack is then emptied into the bin in a manner instructed by supervisor. This is repeated until the bin is full. Employees will need to walk around the tree, under the tree, and inside the tree to pick the appropriate fruit from a ladder. Employees will be wearing safety protection, hard hats, gloves, protective sleeves, knee pads, and eye protection. Employees will be pruning and hoeing citrus, date, and olive trees, using both hands pruning shears, pruning loppers and long handled hoes. Employees will be expected to follow the direction and techniques specific to various trees from the supervisor. Employees will be planting citrus. Start times vary depending on the weather (fog or heavy dew). Fruit cannot be picked until it is dry on the outside of the fruit. Employees will be removing weeds around various trees using a long-handled hoe.

Tree Work – All tree (Citrus, Date Palms/Olive Trees) work & harvest requires either working from the ground while standing or walking on uneven ground or working from a basket/platform that is raised by a forklift or reach lift that will be raised off the ground that could be as high as 55 feet off the ground. Employees in basket/platform are required to wear safety harnesses.

Specific to Date Palms - De-thorn job is done by removing thorns from palms with curved knife while standing on the ground or in a raised platform, by moving the knife along the edges of the frond removing the thorns.

Citrus Packing Shed- Perform pre-grading activities, including operating bin dump and leveling citrus fruit in bins to prevent overfilling. Remove and discard waste prior to grading and sorting process. Assemble and label cartons, fill cartons with citrus fruits. Insert cartons into electronic sizer to be filled. Monitor that citrus carton are filled properly and carton flow operates smoothly. Remove any cartons not meeting grade standard. Empty, clean and refill water tanks. Ensure bins are clean. Remove dirt and trash, wash with water. Assemble and label bins to be filled with citrus fruit. Dump cartons filled with citrus fruit into clean bins to required filling capacity. Move empty bins manually. Bag graded fruit and put in specified cartons/boxes. Operate automatic electric bagging equipment. Assemble and label cartons/boxes to contain bagged fruit. Assemble bags and fill the bagging machine. Remove filled bags, apply bag ties, and put in specified cartons/boxes. Rework degraded citrus fruit in cartons. Set cartons on rollers or shoots. Sort citrus fruit to remove degraded material, rearrange citrus fruit to specifications. Stack filled cartons/boxes. Remove cartons/boxes from the conveyor and stack similar cartons/boxes together. Remove and discard citrus fruit and waste left along the line. Clean work area and equipment. Empty trash. May operate post-harvest fruit grading equipment and assist as safety monitor when equipment is being operated. Must maintain awareness of industrial and fruit grading equipment, and respond to industrial sounds and warnings, such as industrial vehicles, horns, etc. Tasks may include forceful grasping, lifting, carrying (in a stooped position, at waist level and overhead) to 40 + pounds.

Special Requirements

Must have 1-month work experience working in citrus, dates, or olives field work as defined in this application. Written verification required. Specific requirements include lifting to 50 pounds frequently and able to use hand tools, including cutting knives, shears, and long handled hoes. Cannot be color blind due to the need to distinguish colors of crops. Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc. Must be able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions, including rain, cold, high winds, etc. Work involves frequent bending and working in bent or stooped positions. Must be able to walk and stand up extensively. Must be able to climb ladders and not be afraid of heights. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in field or housing.

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