Farmworker: Diversified 45-2092.00

Work description

Workers will perform various duties associated with planting, cultivating, and harvesting corn, beans, cabbage, asparagus, cucumber, broccoli, brussels sprouts and sugarcane. Broccoli, cabbage & Brussel Sprouts: Workers will hand harvest broccoli and brussels sprouts and harvest & trim cabbage. Workers will bend and stoop to pick produce according to size, color, shape and degree of maturity. Workers may use knifes or clippers. Workers will carry full container weighing approximately sixty (60) lbs. and gently place contents into large produce bins. Produce bins should be filled level full unless directed otherwise by the driver or supervisor. Pickers will take care not to bruise or scar produce. Sweet corn: Workers will manually harvest and pack sweet corn by hand and machine. Corn harvesting will be performed mule train style in crews on approximately 20 pullers. Workers will be pulling sweet corn off the stalk and tossing into a metal bin on the mule train. Workers will walk behind, in front of, or drive the mule train. Workers must keep up with the mule train as it moves slowly through the field at a speed ranging from 1/2 mile to one mile per hour. Assemble boxes/crates on the top of the mule train. Packers will pick corn out of the bins and place 48 ears into pre-made crates. Packed crates are then moved to workers who will fold and close the lid of the crates and push them down the conveyor belt system. Loaders will then lift and stack the full crates of corn onto the truck. Count and check the crates as they are loaded onto truck. Maintain daily log of hours and record number of harvested boxes. Corn is harvested in the early morning hours starting before daylight, while temperatures are cooler. This ensures that the sugar content of the corn is higher and provides a better-quality product. A generator powered lighting system is used during early morning hours. Workers will avoid harvesting ears of corn with discolored husks, unacceptable shanks (longer than 6 inches) or visible worn damage. Sweet corn must be harvested by pulling down while bending and reaching to select mature ears. Workers must carefully select ears of corn of correct size and maturity and toss into bin. Workers will assist in Good Agricultural Practices policies. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants are recommended to minimize contact with the plants and thereby reduce the exposure to cuts and scrapes. Gloves are recommended when working with wooden crates. Work will be done on a farm. Workers will perform assigned duties as instructed by their supervisor. Duties may vary from time to time. Workers will be trained in the proper field and shed sanitation. Workers must follow field and shed sanitation requirements at all times. Not following these requirements are cause for Discipline and/or Termination. Worker must possess the physical strength and endurance (ability to continue or last) to repeat the harvest process though out the workday, working quickly and skillfully to perform activities assigned during that activity. Allergies to varieties of ragweed, goldenrod, insecticides, related agricultural chemicals, etc., may affect worker’s ability to perform the work described herein.