Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop

Work description

Workers will perform assigned duties as described in this clearance order and as instructed by their supervisors. Strawberry and Broccoli Planting: While carrying a bag of plants, workers will walk down the row, bend, place one or two plants into each hole in the plastic mulch as instructed, and firm the soil around each plant. Strawberry Harvest: Workers will move down assigned rows picking all ripe berries, taking care to select, sort, and pack containers by size, color, and quantity as directed by the supervisor. Each worker must pick the plants clean of all ripe fruit and pack good, marketable berries into specified containers within the box. Unusable or damaged berries will be packed or disposed of as determined by the supervisor. Workers shall handle berries carefully to avoid bruising and maintain fruit quality. Each harvesting worker is expected to move with the crew from row to row to maintain the efficiency level. Upon completion of each box, workers will affix their assigned numeric identification sticker to the box, take the packed box to the crate shed for inspection, receive credit on their assigned numeric sticker, and receive a new box with containers. Any containers that are over or under packed, or consist of unmarketable fruit, will be returned to the worker for repacking. Upon completion of an assigned row, workers will move to the next vacant row to be picked. Workers are expected to meet the employer's established production and quality standards. Failure to do so may result in corrective action consistent with the employer's policies. Broccoli Harvesting: Workers will use a sharp knife to cut broccoli heads from the stalk, typically 5 to 8 inches below the crown. Workers will trim excess leaves and stalks, inspect each head for quality, and place harvested broccoli into crates for transport to the packing facility or warehouse. Harvesting Blueberries: Workers will harvest blueberries by hand while wearing a one-gallon canvas picking bucket supported by a shoulder strap. Workers will carefully remove ripe fruit without damaging limbs, immature fruit, or the plants, and place the fruit into the picking bucket. When the bucket is full, workers will carry it to the designated field truck or collection container, empty the fruit into the designated container, and return to continue harvesting. Field Maintenance: Workers will assist with the installation, movement, connection, disconnection, flushing, cleaning, and routine servicing of irrigation lines, drip tape, micro-jets, and related irrigation components under supervisor direction. Workers will also lay plastic mulch, tie plants, stake plants, prune, weed, clean micro-jets, collect and dispose of trash, and remove plastic mulch and drip lines from fields using hand tools and equipment provided by the employer.