General Tree Fruit Worker

Number of Workers Requested:  330

Job duties under our General Tree Fruit Worker contract will consist of activities associated with ONET Job Description 45-2092: Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery and Greenhouse. • Some General Labor duties would be to help with the establishment and maintenance of orchard properties by clearing property, planting trees, harvesting nursery trees, building trellis, setting up, installing shade netting, and any other labor considered necessary for the efficient and safe operation of orchard properties. While performing all of the following duties, Workers will be expected to conform to the specific instructions provided each day by the supervisory staff, according to established company procedures accounting for difference in the treatment of different varieties and instructions based on market, fruit condition and operational demands. Time spent in this activity will depend on ranch location and seasonality. • Pruning apple, pear and cherry trees using handheld pruning shears or larger pruning loppers. Remove specific branches and sections of tree based on supervisory instruction by clipping off with shears, or loppers. Arrange all pruned tree branches in the center of the drive row for removal. Pruning of trees may be done from the ground or ladder, or from a motorized platform. Workers must exercise care at all times to prevent breaking of branches and limbs. • Training apple and cherry trees to a trellis – take young tree limbs and attach them to wire using special tape, wood spacers or other provided fastener at specific intervals based on supervisory instruction. Training of trees may be done from the ground or ladder, or from a motorized platform. Workers must exercise care at all times to prevent breaking of branches and limbs. • Thinning apple, cherry, and pear trees – remove small, undersized and/or damaged fruit from tree according to supervisor instructions, using care not to harm tree buds in the process. Thinning of trees may be done from the ground or ladder, or from a motorized platform. Workers must exercise care at all times to prevent breaking of branches and limbs. • Picking numerous varieties of cherries – remove cherry from tree, place cherry into bucket, empty completed bucket into bin. • Picking numerous varieties of apples – remove apple from tree, depending on variety, use of clippers is required to remove stem. Place apple into 50lb picking bag, empty completed bag into bin. • Picking numerous varieties of pears – remove pear from tree place pear into picking bag, empty completed bag with care into bin. • Worker will pick according to grade, color and size and remove fruit in a manner so as to not harm the adjacent fruit spurs on the tree branches or physically damage fruit that is being harvested. Picking may be done from the ground or ladder, or from a motorized platform. • Young tree care, including hoeing, trunk painting, and hand fertilizing. Checker: A checker will perform daily tasks under the direction of a ranch manager or Crew Leader. The Checker will check the bins each Worker picks for quality (no debris, under-developed fruit, bruising, etc.). The Checker will also provide employees with an accurate accounting of fruit picked to ensure accuracy of pay. The Checker will evaluate work performed to ensure quality standards and necessary job requirements are being met. The Checker will provide feedback to the Crew Leader regarding the Workers level of knowledge of the specific task. The Checker must be able to walk and stand during the work day.