Farm Laborer

Work description

Crops: Satsuma, Navel, Shiranui, Tango, Hamlins, Lemons Workers will perform hand harvesting of citrus crops. Following the Supervisors instructions, the worker will walk down the rows/aisles for the purposes of harvesting citrus crops by placing a picking sack over their shoulder and carrying a 18' to 20' ladder from the field truck to the particular area of the citrus grove to be harvested. Supervisors will explain and demonstrate picking requirements to all workers at the start of the season and as needed thereafter to ensure quality standards. The picking sack is a canvas bag equipped with a shoulder strap for support, an opening for the insertion of fruit, and an opening to remove fruit. A fully loaded sack weighs 80 pounds, depending upon the size, condition and variety of fruit. Worker positions the ladder against the tree and within reach of the fruit in a leaning position, taking care not to break limbs, damage the tree, knock off fruit, or interfere with other workers, in a secure position to prevent slipping or falling and possible injury to themselves or other workers. Workers will remove fruit from the tree and place it into a pick sack. When the pick sack is full, workers will take the full sack to the fruit box/tub located in the grove and drop fruit from the pick sack into the box/tub. Bruised or damaged fruit will be noted by supervisors during quality control checks. Supervisors may issue verbal and/or 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. Workers may operate agricultural machinery in groves to load and unload harvesting containers on/off of trailers. In order to perform this kind of work, worker must be in possession of the requisite physical strength and endurance to repeat the picking process rapidly, working quickly and skillfully with their hands, and carrying a large number of sacks of fruit from the area in which the fruit is being harvested to the location of the field box or tub. PACKING HOUSE: Includes washing and packing duties sorting/grading, washing, bunching, and packing of produce. Workers will also assist in the cleaning and sanitation of the packing area. GENERAL CITRUS PLANTING & GROVE MAINTENANCE: Following the supervisors instructions, the worker will drive and control farm equipment for mowing, spraying, and maintaining harvest crops. Operate agricultural equipment to spray pesticides to groves for maintenance of citrus fruit crops. Conduct nutritional injections of fungicides/bactericides on citrus trees. Workers on physical work restrictions or when harvesting work is not available will be required to perform miscellaneous clean-up and maintenance work on grove property, on structures utilized in the grove operation, and on housing for harvesting workers. Setting out, cultivating and harvesting citrus groves. Clean up and maintenance of groves to include removal or citrus sprouts, debris, weeds, and vines. Perform grove irrigation repair, clean/maintain operational structures, buildings, equipment, work areas and housing. Repair and maintain fences. Workers will be paid the highest of the adverse effect wage rate, the prevailing wage rate, or the applicable minimum wage rate for time spent performing such clean-up work. Alternate work may be included. Mow and weed groves. (Continued below)