- Full Time:
- Yes
- Number of Workers Requested:
- 6
- Job Duties:
- Crops/Commodities: Variety of fruits including apples, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, nectarines, pumpkins and sunflowers.
Primary duties (performed the majority of workdays): Plant, cultivate, harvest, grade and as needed pack a variety of fruits including apples, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, nectarines, pumpkins and sunflowers. Prune, thin, trim, and maintain crop. Trellis plants. Train berry canes. Pick/harvest product according to quality standards and according to supervisor's instruction. Load/transport harvested product. Place harvested fruit at bottom of basket. Avoid stem pulls, punctures, bruising, or other damage. Identify defects (bird pecks, limb rubs, splits, sunburn) and other damage. Must be able to differentiate between colors and sizes accurately. Walk rows and orchard carry 6' ladder to/from field truck, and position ladder within reach of fruit. Climb up and down ladder with picking basket to harvest. Remove fruit from tree and place into picking basket. Must take care to avoid breaking limbs, knocking off fruit, damaging tree, or slipping/falling from ladder. Bruised or damaged fruit will be noted by supervisors during quality control checks. Supervisors may issue written disciplinary notice to workers with a significant number of culls, bruised or damaged fruit. Repeated failure to follow quality control instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Assist/move harvested fruit to designated area. Identify and remove the proper canes and vines while retaining the fruiting wood and renewal spurs. Must demonstrate and consistently utilize pruning practices that assure vine balance and preserve vine health. Spot and/or strip pick fruit based on seasonal need. Snap fruit off tree with thumb and palm of hand to avoid stem pulls, punctures, bruising, or other damage. Pick culls and peelers. Fill fruit buckets and place fruit in bins. Follow supervisor/foreman's instructions on color/size requirements. Hand thin to control the size and quality of fruit. Remove fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Must accurately identify and remove misshapen, damaged or otherwise unmarketable fruit. Hand prune based on fruit variety. Use manual pruning tools. Identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots-suckers. Mow, cut, and weed fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, knives, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Workers who have a valid driver's license and doctor's certificate may drive employer's vans or other transportation vehicles on and off the farm and may be offered additional hours.
Job opportunity is Skill Level II. Workers must be able to perform all primary duties independently and without close supervision.
Secondary duties (performed on less than half of the workdays in the contract period): May perform miscellaneous orchard clean-up duties when harvest work not available. Clean-up activities include sprouting, pruning, debris removal, weeding or vine removal, irrigation maintenance or repair, or other related tasks. Manage vineyard canopy to permit light and air circulation. Perform vineyard maintenance activities including but not limited to weed control and trellis repair. May perform general indoor tasks or post-harvest activities when outdoor vineyard work is not available (all such activities will be performed incident to or in conjunction with vineyard operation). Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Dig and maintain ditches.
- Job Classification:
- 45-2092.00 - Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse