Farmworker/laborer

Thinning is a manual process used to control the size and quality of grown fruit. Worker must possess ability to pick up and handle a 16-foot orchard ladder weighing 40lbs. Worker will remove the smallest fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Workers will be expected to be able to identify and remove fruit that is misshapen, damaged and/or with other quality problems as directed by supervisors. Pay will be hourly. Pruning numerous varieties of apple, peach, plum, and apricot trees according to established company procedures based on the difference in the treatment of different varieties. Worker will perform pruning on trees for long periods of time using a variety of pruning equipment including hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws, and 14-foot ladders. Pruning and thinning may be done from the ground or a ladder up to 14 feet in height or from a motorized platform. Workers may be required to selectively prune only trees of a certain size and color as instructed by supervisors. Worker will to identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches which rub against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots/suckers and selectively remove diseased limbs and branches due to fire blight and/or bacterial canker with hand pruning saws and clippers, mechanized clippers and pole pruners or manually pulling/breaking new growth. Occasionally workers may be required to use chain saws and other mechanized equipment in pruning activities. Pay will be hourly. Worker will hand harvest apples to quality standards. Worker will attach harvesting bucket, harness or bag and pick fruit while standing on the ground and higher branches while standing on a ladder. Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by gently grasping fruit with the hands and removing from the tree in a motion so as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches. Some varieties will be stem-clipped with hand clippers when harvested. Worker will fill bucket, harness or bag in a way that will distribute weight of produce evenly. Worker will carry bucket, harness or bag of up to 60lbs and will place fruit into 10-bushel or 18-bushel bins. Worker will fill bin from all sides and will not allow fruit to roll in the bin. Worker must exercise care at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. Workers must be able to pick and dump fruit without stem pulls, punctures, bruising or other damage which diminishes quality. Worker must also exercise care to prevent knocking fruit with the ladder or a prop. Observation of bruised, damaged or cull fruit by supervisors will result in progressive disciplinary action, outlined in work rules below. Worker may not pick up fruit that has been in contact with the ground. Worker must pick all fruit on the tree that meets quality standards. Worker will complete harvest preparation including spreading liners in bins, rolling bins into blocks by hand. Pay will be hourly.

Salary : $15