Farmworkers and Laborers

The farm work position includes duties associated with planting, transplanting, cultivating, harvesting, grading, loading, and unloading of fresh produce such as watermelons, blackberries and blueberries; the pruning and upkeep of blackberry and blueberry plants; deploying, maintaining, and repairing field irrigation components; farm, field and packinghouse maintenance, sanitation, and post-harvest cleanup as well as duties related to the deployment and maintenance of in-field irrigation and frost protection general field and crop care; farm vehicle operation. The outlined job duties will require workers to stand, walk, stoop, bend, and lift up to 85 pounds. These tasks will require individuals to work quickly and consistently and for long periods of time outdoors in all weather conditions. Workers must use care when performing their farm work duties and exercise consciousness to not damage or bruise the fruit and vegetables. It also includes making important decisions based on size, coloring, and ripeness according to prescribed standards. Workers must adhere to all safety rules as instructed by their supervisors and all farm work operations must meet the standards and specifications given by the employer This work requires adherence to important food safety and quality standard operating procedures and the ability to work quickly and consistently alongside fellow workers with a positive, professional, team-based attitude and a consideration for the safety and health of fellow workers and of the consumers who will purchase and consume the fresh produce grown, harvested, packed, and shipped from the farm. Crop and Field Maintenance: Workers may be required to turn watermelon vines from drive-rows; deploy, check, or repair field irrigation components; lay irrigation pipe; help with water runoff and trenching; assist in planting, transplanting, and crop cultivation; use backpack sprayers to maintain crop beds; help with post-harvest cleanup including pulling, piling, and sorting plastic mulch and field row irrigation components; or pick up roots, limbs, and cuttings. Instruction will be given for each task and standards of performance communicated to workers. Farm Vehicle & Equipment Operation: Workers may be required to operate farm vehicles and equipment such as trucks, buses, fork lifts, tractors, conveyors, and sprayers. Workers will be instructed in the safety and operation of the vehicle/equipment before operating. For example, workers may drive a truck or bus in the field to aid in harvesting, drive to and from the field to the packing shed, or drive to and from the housing unit to the work site. Workers may utilize various equipment to transport grower-owned product from one location to another location owned by the grower. Utilizing farm equipment, the workers may cross state lines. All vehicles should be driven in a manner to protect workers, harvested produce, in-field crops, and equipment. Produce Harvesting: Workers will be assigned a row or series of rows and required to select and pick produce according to criteria outlined and demonstrated by managers such as size, coloring, and ripeness. They will be responsible for in-field grading and discarding of poor quality, rotting, and/or over-ripened produce. Workers will gently load the good quality produce into containers, taking care to avoid damage or bruising.

Salary : $12