Work Tasks to be performed Apples and Pears: Worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit while standing on the ground and higher branches while standing on a ladder. Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit with the hands and removing from the tree in a motion so as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches, or bruise the fruit. Worker will carry harness, bucket or bag of up to 60 lbs. and will place fruit into wooden bins and plastic totes. Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. Worker will examine harvested fruit in bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the grade, color and size specifications. Apple & Cherry Tree Planting & Replacing Worker will ride on planter, placing trees in ground, straighten and level trees with shovels and water trees with hoses attached to water tank. Thinning Hand thin to control the size and quality of fruit. Remove fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Must accurately identify and remove misshapen, damaged or otherwise unmarketable fruit. 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 and selectively remove diseased limbs and branches due to fire blight and/or bacterial canker. Workers will keep the work area clean and safe by keeping cut branches away from the walking area. Employee must use small knife to make cuts on the main stem of the tree, from 2 feet off the ground to the top of the tree. Use of a ladder or platform will be required. Workers may be required to apply a paint mixer to the cut they made with a hand held bottle spray. Cherry Picking Worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit while standing on the ground and higher branches while standing on a ladder. Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit by the stem and removing from the tree in a motion so as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches, pull the stem from the fruit or bruise the fruit. Orchard Irrigation Worker will turn irrigation valves on and off and check irrigation lines for breaks, leaks or plugged sprinklers. Fix any leaks or plugs that are found. Dig up broken pipes with a shovel and repair them using a hand saw and glue. Operate an ATV to move from one block to another and to drive rows checking irrigation lines. Frost Control Worker will place propane and diesel heaters and hoses in the orchard and connect them to fuel lines. During a frost event, worker will be required to ignite the propane heaters with a hand torch. Start wind machine engine. Operate an ATV to move from one block to another. Remove propane and diesel heaters from the orchard once frost is done. Training Hops Workers will manually train (wrap) hop vines on string. Training hops will require special care not to damage vine. Twining Hops Workers will work in groups to form a twining crew. Twining crews are responsible for attaching twine to the trellis wire, and affixing the opposite end in the ground with a clip. 2-3 employees will be assigned to tie the string on the trellis wire on the twining platform. One worker per group will be assigned to drive tractor. The remaining workers will clip strings into the ground with a twining gun. Work crews will rotate between the following three positions during the workday: When hanging vines, worker will grab the hop vines from the trailer and lock them onto the hooks to feed the processing facility. Work also includes picking up vines from the floor. When working on the portable combine crew, the Top Back Cleaner will use the top cutter to ensure that the hop wire is cleaned of all hops. Assists the driver by pulling the wire to make sure it is in a straight line so the combine stays on a straight course. Observes and alerts the combine driver of operating conditions and confirms to the driver when vines are hooked up. Monitor that the combine operator and those working alongside the combine maintain uniform pace. Operate hop combine in the field to harvest hops and load trucks. If the top cutter becomes clogged, worker will clean it and keep it in working condition. Worker may assist combine driver in the daily maintenance of the combine by cleaning and checking oil levels and reporting any problems to the supervisor. When working alongside the combine, worker will observe the choppers and pick up vines if they fall to the ground. If a vine is missed, worker will pull it down and throw it on the belt. The truck loader will be in charge of loading the truck with the hops as it comes from the combine. Make in-field repairs. Service/repairs includes but is not limited to: lubricating grease points; inspecting and maintaining fluid levels, tire air pressures, belt and conveyer chain tensions, radiator and filter function, and brake performance; removing and replacing tires, wheels, bearings, belts, wear parts, filters, brake shoes, wheel seals, suspension parts, lights and lenses and chain or chain links. Other Job Specifications Include: 1. Caring for young fruit trees including weeding and hoeing. 2. Summer pruning may be done from the ground or ladder up to 12 feet in height or from a motorized platform. Worker will prune away excess branches and/or suckers without causing damage for the tree or existing fruit. 3. Placing reflective material at the base of fruit trees prior to/during harvest. 4. Hand harvesters may be instructed to pick culls and peelers (as directed and identified by supervisor) and drop on ground or place in bin. 5. Picking numerous varieties of apples and pears according to established company procedures accounting for difference in the treatment of different varieties. 6. Hand harvesters may be required to selectively pick only fruit of a certain color and/or size as instructed by the supervisor. 7. Pick a percentage of bloom from each cluster on the trees. Work required from a ladder or a motorized platform. 8. Observation of bruised, damaged or cull fruit by the supervisor will result in a bad bin mark and after three bad bin marks, the employees will receive disciplinary action up to and including termination. A bad bin mark occurs when a bin is inspected and a significant number of culls, bruised or damaged fruits are found by the supervisors or quality control. 9. Workers will be trained in harvesting fruit, placing it into bins that may be on trailers and/or platforms that move the bins and will be paid per hour the AEWR rate. 10. Hand tools, such as pruning shears, and/or picking bags will be utilized and provided. 11. Installation of new fruit tree trellis systems. This may include installing trellis posts, trellis wire and anchors for the trellis system. Repair old trellis wire or poles. 12. Must be able to bend and pick up unwanted rocks in the orchard tree rows. 13. Worker may care for young hop plants, including weeding and hoeing. 14. Worker may be required to thin fruit from a motorized platform. 15. Harvesting grapes and placing in bins. 16. Workers may drive/operate tractors, with or without implements. Workers will be instructed in safety and operation of the tractor/implements before operation. Tractors should be driven in a manner to protect operator, other workers, products, trees, crops and equipment. Repeated failure to obey safety requirements and operating instructions may result in termination. Tractors will only be driven/operated for the harvesting of apples and pears. Tractors will be used to bring in empty and full bins of fruit, mowing the fields, brush beating, as well as to spray the trees and weeds. 17. Apply pheromones to apple/pear trees. 18. Install shade cloth above trellis using ladders or platforms. 19. Training and limb positioning of fruit trees, as well as training trees to trellis, including clipping and tying limbs and shoots to wire. |