Orchard Laborer

• "This is a Temporary Position. Dates of employment are From 3/1/2026 to 11/30/2026 **T**o apply: click on "I want to apply" and fax your resume/application to Luis Gomez-Ruiz at 717-264-0856. Be sure to reference the job posting number (JO#22202496) on your resume/application.** **All resumes/applications are reviewed and only those that match the job specifications are forwarded to the employer for consideration. Must have 3 months verifiable experience. **Crops: Apples, Peaches, Nectarines Pruning: Hand pruning based on fruit variety. Use manual and mechanized pruning tools and equipment. Pruning occurs when trees are dormant before fruit appears, typically from February through April. Workers must be physically able to prune trees, most of which is done from ladders, with lower branches being pruned from the ground. Identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoot-suckers. Follow supervisors' instructions on pruning method. Thinning: Workers will properly thin apple, peach, and nectarine trees. Fruit trees are thinned between May and July depending on crop/variety. Hand thin to control the size and quality of fruit. Remove excess and defective fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Must accurately identify and remove misshapen, damaged or otherwise unmarketable fruit. Workers must be physically able to thin trees, most of which is done from ladders up to 14 ft. in length and weighing up to 25 to 40 lbs., with lower branches being thinned from the ground. Follow supervisors' instructions
  
  

on thinning method. Harvest: Pick peaches, nectarines, and apples by hand. Ensure removal of all fruit meeting picking requirements from trees. Gently snap fruit off tree with pads of fingers and palm of hand to avoid stem pulls, punctures, bruising, or other damage. Carefully place fruit in picking container worn over shoulders with straps. Empty filled picking container weighing up to 40 lbs. into bulk field bin, avoiding bruising of fruit. Avoid/discard severely damaged or decaying fruit. Keep bins free of limbs, leaves, decayed fruit, and any other foreign matter. Use/handle ladders up to 20 ft. in length and weighing up to 60 lbs. Follow supervisors' instructions on color/size or other requirements of harvested fruit. Must be able to differentiate between colors and fruit varieties accurately. Harvesting specifics can change daily depending on different orchards, varieties, crop or market conditions. Workers will be expected to conform to the specific instructions given for each fruit variety in any given orchard. Supervisors will explain and demonstrate picking requirements to all workers at the start of the season and as needed thereafter to ensure quality standards. Bruised or damaged fruit will be noted by supervisor(s) in a post-inspection quality report, and shall not be excessive. Bruising and damage tolerances will vary based on crop and market conditions and shall be communicated to workers by supervisors. Worker's picked fruit will be inspected randomly each day. Supervisors may issue written disciplinary notice to workers with a significant number of bruised or damaged fruit. Repeated failure to follow quality control instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Piece rate pay may be enacted based on variety and crop/market conditions. Piece rates starting at $0.75 per bushel and may go up based on variety and conditions. Workers must comply with picking instructions and communicated quality standards. Workers failing to produce a sufficient number of piece rate units to earn the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for all hours worked during a pay period will be paid on an hourly basis at the AEWR for that pay period. Workers paid on an hourly basis who fail to perform their duties in a proficient manner and/or fail to meet minimum.