Fruit Harvester & Orchard Worker

Full Time:

Yes

Number of Workers Requested:

12

Job Duties:

Crops/Commodities: apples, peaches. Harvest: Pick apples and peaches by hand for fresh market and processing. Spot and/or strip pick fruit based on seasonal need. Ensure removal of all fruit meeting picking requirements from trees. Gently snap fruit off tree with pads of fingers and palm of hand to avoid stem pulls, punctures, bruising, or other damage. Carefully place fruit in picking container worn over shoulder with straps. Empty filled picking container weighing up to 40 lbs into bulk field bin, avoiding bruising of fruit. Avoid/discard severely damaged or decaying fruit. Keep bins free of limbs, leaves, decayed fruit and any other foreign matter. Use/handle ladders up to 20 ft. in length and weighing up to 60 lbs. Follow supervisor/foreman's instructions on color/size or other requirements of harvested fruit. Must be able to differentiate between colors and fruit varieties accurately. Harvesting specifics can change daily depending on different orchards, varieties (crop) or market conditions. Workers will be expected to conform to the specific instructions given for each fruit variety in any given orchard. Supervisors will explain and demonstrate picking requirements to all workers at the start of the season and as needed thereafter to ensure quality standards. Minimum standard for clean-picked apples is 100 bushels per 8 hour day. Bruised or damaged fruit will be noted by supervisor(s) in a post-inspection quality report, and shall not exceed 4% as defined in the USDA standard for grade. Worker’s picked fruit will be inspected randomly each day. 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. In addition to hourly pay, workers may be eligible for sliding scale production bonuses based on number of bushels picked per hour, ranging from $0.02 per bushel to $0.40 and above, as variety, market and crop conditions determine. Workers must maintian a 5% or better bruising rate for Processing Apples and 2% for Fresh Apples. Minimum standard for clean picked apples is 14 bushels per hour. Workers failing to produce a sufficient number of piece rate units to earn the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for all hours worked during a pay period will be paid on an hourly basis at the AEWR for that pay period. Workers paid on an hourly basis who fail to perform their duties in a timely and proficient manner will be provided up to three warnings, and will be coached/instructed on working faster and more efficiently. Worker may be terminated upon issuance of third warning. Pruning: Hand pruning based on fruit variety. Use manual and mechanized pruning tools and equipment. Identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots-suckers.Thinning: Hand thin to control the size and quality of fruit. Remove excess and defective fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Must accurately identify and remove misshapen, damaged or otherwise unmarketable fruit. General labor: Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling and other manual tasks. Clear debris and stones from orchards, and clean/maintain farm buildings, structures, equipment, and work areas. Remove suckers from tree bases. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Build/repair fences. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Workers with a clean driving record (no major moving violations such as but not limited to Driving While Intoxicated or Reckless Driving) and able to obtain an insurable driver's license may be required to drive company vehicles.

Job Classification:

45-2092.00 - Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

With high quality products and considerate service, we will work together with you to enhance your business and improve the efficiency. Please don't hesitate to contact us to get more details of fruit picker stick.