Farm Workers

Job description

Plant, cultivate, harvest, grade and field pack strawberries, bell peppers, cucumbers, cabbage, eggplant, zucchini, watermelon, squash, green beans, okra, cauliflower and cole crops by hand. Transplant crops by walking and carrying full trays through the field and stooping extensively while placing transplants into holes. Harvest developed bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, zucchini, squash, green beans and okra by hand, or using a knife, and place them into a bucket. When bucket is full, carry to dumper on truck that is moving through rows alongside workers, being careful not to bruise crops. Pack harvested crops into boxes on the back of a trailer. Bend and cut cole crops using a knife and toss into bins. Walk and stoop to pick strawberries in the field and place them into flats. Count and check strawberry flats as they are being harvested and placed on the truck in the field. Once flats are full, carry and load onto trailer. As a minor activity during rainy weather, harvest strawberries in flats, face pack into clamshells and place clamshells back into the box. Harvest watermelons by walking through rows and selecting melons ready for harvest. Workers will then pick up harvested melons and pitch the product to another worker who will catch the watermelon and either gently load into bins or pitch it to another worker within an assembly line. Use hand tools such as shovels, rakes, trowels, hoes, tampers, scissors and knives. Lay plastic to prepare beds for planting. Bend, reach and pull up used plastic and pull drip tape and bring to headlands. Till soil. Weed and thin crops. Apply fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides. Clean, sort, count, check and load harvested products. Set up and operate irrigation equipment. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. As a minor activity, operate, repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements and mechanical equipment. May drive various pieces of farm equipment. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Identify plants, pests, and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers. Shake bottles of predator mites to apply mites to crops. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities. Maintain and upkeep grounds and farm, labor house, and packing shed, including but not limited to, cutting grass and pulling grass and weeds. Workers must use care not to damage or bruise produce. Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields or costs. Workers with a valid license and doctor's certificate may operate vehicles to transport workers and may be offered additional hours. Assist with Good Agricultural Practices policies. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a 2 day introductory period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks.

Special Requirements

Two months of verifiable farmwork experience required. Perform prolonged walking, bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling and heavy lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs. Work in inclement weather including extreme heat, cold and/or rain.