Farm Workers And Laborers, Crop, Nursery, And Greenhouse
Employer
(Andrea & Andrew Beck) Alphine Rd & Hwy 627
Avon Park, FL, FL 33825
United States
Job description
Workers will perform assigned duties as instructed by their supervisor. Duties may vary from time to time. May work in blueberry packing house (located on the farm). CITRUS Following the Supervisors instructions, the worker will place a picking sack over their shoulder and carry an 18' to 22' ladder from the field truck to the particular area of the grove to be harvested. The picking sack is a canvas bag equipped with a shoulder strap for support, an opening for the insertion of fruit, and an opening to remove fruit. A fully loaded sack weighs between approximately 80 and 100 pounds, depending upon the size, condition and variety of fruit. Worker positions ladder against the tree and within reach of the fruit in a leaning position, taking care not to break limbs, damage the tree, knock off fruit, or interfere with other workers, in a secure position to prevent slipping or falling and possible injury to themselves or other workers. Worker will remove fruit from the tree and place into pick sack. When picking sack is full take full sack to fruit container located in the grove and drop fruit from pick sack into container. In order to perform this kind of work, the worker must be physically able to harvest citrus, fill his assigned sacks, and transport it to the tub. The employee must be able to climb ladders with extra weight of the sack. The worker must be able to harvest on the average of one volumetric tub per hour (equivalent to 10-bushel boxes per hour) in grove conditions that are considered “good picking” by the end of the probatory period. Workers may participate in planting citrus trees using a post-hole digger to dig the holes and then placing the tree into the hole. May also participate in placing tree defender citrus bags on young trees. This is done by hammering in a stake with a rubber mallet next to the newly planted tree, placing the tree defender bag on the stake and over the tree, and finally using 2 zip ties to secure the bag to the tree. Blueberries- Manually plant, cultivate, harvest blueberries. Prune blueberry bushes using pruning shears and loppers. Each worker may be given a picking card which he will keep throughout the workday. Workers may receive a hooked belt and carry 2– 1 gallon picking buckets as they move down assigned rows picking all ripe berries, placing them in the bucket. Each worker must pick the plants clean of all ripe fruit. When buckets are filled, the worker will take to the Supervisor who then punches their picking card or places their bucket on the scales to be weighted. Harvest by use of mechanical equipment, load and transport blueberries to processing shed. Use hand tools, shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, knives, and baskets as needed. Inspect field irrigation systems, replace damaged pipes, valves, water jets, sprinklers, etc. using necessary equipment. May construct trellises, minor repairs to farm fences, minor repairs to buildings replace damaged posts using wire stretchers, hammers, paint, brushes, etc. Load mulch on trailer and move to fields, unload and spread mulch around plants as needed. Inspect the field to maintain a 3 to 5 foot weed free strip between rows by removing weeds, grass, etc. Duties may include tilling soil, applying fertilizers and pesticides, clean, field pack, load harvested products, post-harvest clean-up & other related activities. Workers will be trained on applying fertilizers and pesticides. Inspect bushes for damage, disease or insect infestation and remove or replace as directed by farm manager. Clean, adjust and handle minor maintenance on machinery and implements, oiling moving parts and replacing damaged parts. The workers must be able to lift and carry items from 5 to 30 pounds in the course of performing required activities. Hours and days of work may vary due to weather conditions: blueberries are perishable and must be picked and packed within a limited time of harvest.
Special Requirements
Applicants must be 18 years or older. The company may conduct background checks to all new applicants at the employers expense. All tools, supplies and equipment will be provided at no cost to the worker. The majority of the workday is spent on ones feet and outdoors. The worker must be able to work outside for at least 6 hours a day in all kinds of weather and be in possession of the requisite physical strength and endurance to repeat the picking process rapidly, working quickly and skillfully with their hands. Workers should expect little/no work when going from 1 variety of fruit to another depending on the maturation of each fruit, weather, or other conditions beyond the employers control and daily hours may be extended due to planting and harvesting demands. Workers must be able to climb, stand, sit, stoop, squat, kneel, crouch, bend (from the waist), push, pull, reach and lift.