Skip to main contentSkip to select language
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Orchard Worker

Mt. Clifton Fruit Company, L.L.C.

Timberville, VA

$15.81 per hour

INACTIVE

Recruitment Information

Telephone Number to Apply:
+15408963079
Email address to Apply:
jobs@turkeyknobapples.com

Job Description

Full Time:
Yes
Number of Workers Requested:
47
Job Duties:
Crops/Commodities: Apples. Tasks include: Fruit Harvest / Picking Apples Picking apples for the fresh market. Quality is essential. Ladders ranging from 14 ft. to 20 ft. in length and weighing from 35 to 50 lbs. each are used. Care must be taken when picking fruit not to damage or bruise fruit. Properly filled fruit buckets weigh up to 40 lbs. Pickers are required to snap fruit off of tree using their thumb and palm of hand to avoid bruising. Each piece of fruit must be carefully placed in bucket to avoid bruising. Foreman or owner will give demonstrations of how the fruit must be picked; picking requirements will be explained to all workers prior to the season's start. The employer has established a picking bruise standard to which all pickers must adhere as follows: A roving inspector paid for by the employer selects random samples from bins. Apples will be graded and scored for amount of bruises and amount of spurs/trash in the bin. Scoring is according to USDA standards for US Fancy grade or better. Standards are explained and demonstrated to all workers prior to season's start. Inspectors review the results of the inspection immediately with the supervisor. Workers must be able to keep pace with the balance of the crew, maintaining productivity at a minimum of 14 3/4 bushel bag dumps per hour during harvest. Temperatures may range from 10 to 100 F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Failure to comply with operating, pesticide protection and safety standards may result in termination. Fruit Packing Grade and pack fruit by hand or with mechanized packing equipment, including but not limited to bagging machines, bin feeding machines, box machines, labeling machines, regular and high stacking forklifts. Sort graded fruit in appropriate containers according to packing instructions. Deliver pallets of finished product to cold storage. Prepare orders for shipping. Keep material and product records accurately. Fruit tree pruning Workers may also be required to work in orchard performing both manual and machine tasks associated with pruning and fruit tree cultivation. Careful pruning requires knowledge of what to prune, how much to prune and fruit trees' growth habits. Workers are expected to possess or acquire pruning skills in order to be able 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 with hand pruning saws and clippers, mechanized clippers and pole pruners. Occasionally workers may be required to use chain saws and other mechanized equipment in pruning activities. Workers must be able to perform all activities with accuracy and efficiency. Workers must possess proficiency with both hand tools and mechanical pruning equipment. Pruning tasks may continue throughout the season. Fruit tree thinning While thinning trees, workers will be instructed as to how close together fruit should be spaced and which fruit are most desirable to leave or take. The supervisor will set a standard or pattern for each orchard and will demonstrate and communicate this to workers. In some instances, fruit thinning will be done from a six- to twenty-foot ladder weighing up to 50 lbs. All workers must be able to lift and carry a ladder, as well as work from the top of the ladder. Limbs must not be torn from the tree, nor should limbs be completely stripped of leaves or fruit. Proper spacing and selection of fruit are critical to maximizing the trees potential yield. Workers will thin fruit using hands to remove excess fruit, taking care to walk around entire tree before moving to the next.
Job Classification:
45-2092.00 - Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

The job/industry classification and description includes general information on the position from ONET/OES and the North American Industry Classification System. Please review Job Duties and Job Order for more information.

Job Requirements

Experience Required:
Yes
Months of Experience Required:
3
Special Requirements:
This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable prior agricultural employment experience working in a tree fruit orchard performing manual and mechanical tasks associated with production and harvest or packing house activities. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing is required upon reasonable suspicion of use. Any employee who declines to take or fails a drug test will be immediately terminated.
Number of Hours Per Week:
50
Work Schedule (Start/End time):
7:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Employer Information

Company Name:
Mt. Clifton Fruit Company, L.L.C.
Location:
Timberville, VA 22853

Worksite

Address:
17581 MECHANICSVILLE RD, Timberville, VA 22853

Job Order Details

ETA Case Number:
H-300-24159-083832
Multiple Worksites:
No
Additional Wage Information:
Apple Harvest - $0.82 for a picking bag or bucket equivalent to ¾ bushel. Estimated average at 20 bag dumps/hr = $16.40/hr. Guaranteed $15.81/hr.
Date Posted:
6/26/2024
Piece Rate Offer
$0.82

Share