Farm Workers and Laborers, Crop

H2ajobs; Zolfo Springs (FL); On-site; USD 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-provided housing

Meals provided

Transport and subsistence

Job summary

H2ajobs is seeking workers for farm labor across strawberry fields in Florida. Workers perform general field labor, irrigation tasks, and assist in packing and loading harvested produce.

Duties include cutting/ trimming runners, handling plastic and drip-tape, planting, weeding, hoop covering, and sanitation practices. Housing, meals, and transportation are provided by the employer.

Qualifications

• Experience wanted: 0 months.
• Must follow strict sanitation and safety practices in all field activities.

Responsibilities

• All activities: follow instructions from Farm Manager or Crew Supervisor and work assigned tasks.
• Runner Cutting/Trimming: walk down rows to cut/trim runners, leaves, and blooms on strawberry plants.
• Freeze Protection: assist with keeping overhead irrigation rain birds free of ice during freezing weather.
• Assist in Plastic Laying: hold plastic, unroll, even ends, and remove/reinstall rain birds as instructed.
• Drip-tape Hook Up: cut drip-tape at end of bed and connect to main water line.
• Strawberry Planting: plant strawberry slips into holes and firm dirt around plants.
• Weeding: remove weeds by hand and hoe in walkways and around plants.
• Plastic and Drip-tape Removal: remove plastic and dispose or burn as instructed.
• Hoop Covering: assist in setting up hoops, placing plastic on poles, and secure with rope.
• Fabric Laying: lay fabric in drainage ditches between rows.
• Citrus: carry picking sack and ladder, pick fruit, place in sack, and unload to tub; inject properly.
• Blueberry: carry bucket and collect fruit into tub.
• Housing: Employer-provided housing.
• Meals: Employer-provided meals and kitchen facilities.
• Transport: Employer-provided transportation and daily subsistence for workers beyond commuting distance.

Job description

All Activities: Workers will perform all job specifications as instructed by the Farm Manager or Crew Supervisor. Each worker will receive and identification number to be used during harvest activities and throughout the employment period. Work hours may vary depending on weather or other conditions. Sunday work may be required. Assist in the packaging and loading of harvested produce for transport. Perform irrigation tasks to ensure proper water supply to crops. Perform general field labor. Operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment safely. Follow safety protocols and maintain cleanliness in work areas. Duties may vary from time to time and may include all of the following job specifications:

Runner Cutting/Trimming: Worker will walk down row as instructed and cut/trim runners, leaves, and blooms as directed from each strawberry plant as necessary.

Freeze Protection Activities: May assist regardless of time of day, in keeping overhead irrigation rain birds free of ice during freezing weather.

Assist in Plastic Laying: Workers will hold plastic at end of row as machine moves down row unrolling plastic. Workers will even up ends of row with a shovel to make them straight, also will clean out ditches at end of row. Unload plastic and drip-tape from truck and load plastic and drip- tape on field machine as needed. May be instructed to remove or reinstall rain bird.

Drip-tape Hook Up: Workers will be required to cut drip-tape at end of bed as instructed and hook up drip-tape to main water line.

Strawberry Planting: While carrying a bag of strawberry plants, worker will walk down row, while bending, and place one or two plants into each hole in the plastic as instructed and firm dirt around plant.

Weeding: Workers will remove weeds by hand and use of a hoe from the walk-way and remove all weeds growing around plants by hand. Workers will remove weeds from the growing area, by raking piles of debris and dispose of it as instructed.

Plastic and Drip-tape Removal: Unhook drip-tape from main water line, walk down row while pulling plastic down the bed until it is completely removed. Take removed plastic to proper disposal or burning station, as instructed.

Hoop Covering: As Instructed, assist in setting up protective covering structure, placing metal hoops onto stakes and assist in unloading, unrolling, and placing plastic on poles to cover crop. Also, secure plastic cover with rope. Will assist with seasonal maintenance of hoop structure, and if necessary removal of hoops at end of crop cycle.

Fabric Laying: As instructed, worker will move down drainage ditches between rows and assist in laying fabric material in ditch.

Citrus: Worker will place a picking sack over their shoulder and carry a 18' to 20' ladder from the field truck to the particular area of the grove to be harvested. 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 between approximately 80 and 100 pounds, depending upon the size, condition and variety of fruit. Worker positions 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. Worker will remove fruit from the tree and place into pick sack. When pick sack is full take full sack to fruit tub located in the grove and drop fruit from pick sack into tub. Administer injection using proper techniques to ensure effective absorption.

Blueberry: Worker will carry a lidless plastic bucket equipped with a handle to the particular area of the field to be harvested. A fully loaded bucket weighs 5.5 pounds. Worker will carry bucket along plants stopping and stooping at each plant to remove fruit and place into bucket. When bucket is full take full bucket to fruit tub l

Housing: Employer-provided (including mobile or range)

Meals: Employer will provide housing that include full, free and convenient cooking and kitchen facilities to the workers that will enable workers to prepare their own meals. Employer will provide transportation at least once per week to local grocery stores, banking and laundry facilities.

Transport: The employer will provide, and at the employers expense, both the inbound and outbound cost of reasonable transportation and reasonable daily subsistence for workers hired from beyond normal commuting distance.

Experience wanted: 0 months

Sanitation Requirements: For food and general safety purposes, all workers will be required and expected to follow common sanitary practices at all times. This is particularly critical when working in agricultural crops for human consumption. Employees are required to cleanse their hands by washing them thoroughly with soap and water after using the bathroom and before entering the fields. All workers must report all injuries and illnesses to their employer. As well any communicable diseases such as but not limited to diarrhea, or any other infectious disease or illness. Workers shall report immediately any cuts or abrasions that cause open bleeding. No tobacco, food, gum, candy, drink (other than water) or medication is allowed while working in the field. No phones or other distractions. No jewelry, watches or fingernails longer than 1/8\" are allowed. No open toe shoes or sandals are permitted. Glass bottles, drinking glasses, or any item made from glass are prohibited in the field.