What are the responsibilities and job description for the Farm Workers position at J&R Baker Produce, Inc.?
Plant, cultivate, harvest, grade and pack cabbage, napa cabbage, squash, sweet corn, broccoli, greens (kale, collards, mustard, and turnip), hard squashes, cotton and eggplant by hand. Plant, cultivate and harvest cotton and peanuts by machine. When harvesting sweet corn, workers will either be walking behind a moving trailer while pulling sweet corn off the stalk and tossing up into trays on the trailer; driving the mule train equipment; assembling boxes; packing corn into boxes; tying and pushing the packed boxes down the trailer; closing the lid of the packed boxes; or loading the boxes onto the back of the trailer. When harvesting cabbage and napa cabbage, workers will either be walking behind a moving trailer, bending and reaching while using a knife to cut at the base of the head of the mature cabbage and tossing it up into trays on the trailer; packing the cut cabbage into boxes on the trailer; pushing the packed boxes down rollers; or stacking and loading 50 lb. packed boxes. When harvesting squash or eggplant workers will either be walking behind a moving trailer, bending and reaching while using a knife to cut the mature squash off the vine and placing them into 10-gallon buckets; packing the squash into boxes on the trailer; pushing the packed boxes down rollers; or stacking and loading boxes. Banding broccoli and greens, roll greens and broccoli underneath ice machine.
Determine maturity level of produce quickly and consistently by color, feel, appearance and size and apply correct defect tolerance, handling and harvest standards as instructed by supervisor. Make sure that plants are picked clean of all produce of correct size and maturity according to supervisors' instructions being careful not to bruise or damage produce. Work in groups to harvest crops with agricultural equipment that is moving through the field along with workers while being careful not to damage crops. Clean, grade, sort, pack and stack produce by size, weight, color or condition, and count, check and load harvested products of up to 50 lbs. in fields or at the packing shed.
Use hand tools such as shovels, hoes, tampers and knives. Pull weeds and apply herbicides, fertilizers and pesticides to crops. Till soil, lay and remove plastic and drip irrigation tape. Set up, operate, repair and maintain irrigation equipment. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs. Clean work areas. Minor activities may include: repairing/maintaining fences or farm buildings; operating, repairing and maintaining farm vehicles, tractors, and/or tractor-drawn machinery to cultivate and harvest crops; and tending to cattle. Assist with Good Agricultural Practices policies. Equal Opportunity Employer.
Light cattle work: workers will feed, keep an eye out for illness and help with vaccinations.
Salary : $12