Farmworker: Fruit

Zingler Farms, Inc.; Town of Kendall (NY); On-site; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Full time

Job summary

A fruit harvesting company in New York is seeking seasonal workers for full-time positions to plant, cultivate, and harvest fruit including apples, peaches, strawberries, and more. Candidates must have physical strength to lift up to 75 lbs and endure extreme temperatures. Experience with apple tree training is required, and adherence to sanitation practices is crucial. These positions run from March to November 2026, offering hands-on agricultural experience in a dynamic work environment.

Qualifications

• Must have at least three months experience with apple tree training.
• Must lift 75 lbs.
• Exposure to extreme temperatures and repetitive movements.

Responsibilities

• Plant, cultivate, and harvest various fruits such as apples and peaches.
• Ensure sanitation practices are followed during harvest.
• Work at a vigorous pace under varying climatic conditions.

Skills

Physical strength and endurance

Ability to work quickly and efficiently

Attention to detail

Tools

Ladder

Pruning tools

Job description

Overview

46 Fulltime H-2A Seasonal Jobs available 3/09/2026 - 11/15/2026

Duties: Workers will plant, cultivate, and harvest Fruit: Apples, Peaches, Strawberries, Raspberries, Cherries, Plums, Nectarines, Apricots.

Worker must possess the physical strength and endurance to repeat the harvest process throughout the workday, working quickly and skillfully to perform activities assigned during that activity. Workers must work at a sustained, vigorous pace and make bona fide efforts to work efficiently and consistently under the climatic and other working conditions. Workers may not leave trash or other discarded items in work areas or vehicles and must dispose of such items in provided receptacles.

Workers must wash hands with soap and water after all bathroom and meal breaks. Allergies to varieties of ragweed, goldenrod, insecticides, and related agricultural chemicals may affect workers’ ability to perform the work described herein.

Productions Standard: Workers must strive for 5% or less bruising rate.

Sanitation Requirements: For food and general personal safety purposes, all workers will be required and expected to follow common sanitary practices at all times, particularly when hand harvesting 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 for harvest activities or the packing facility for packing operations.

Apples: Workers will perform various tasks involved in planting, cultivation (including pruning and thinning) and harvesting fruit according to supervisor instructions. Workers may till soil, plant stock, and perform pruning activities using a variety of tools. May aid in irrigation duties. May aid in minor repair of wooden fruit containers. Workers will harvest fruit according to color, size, and degree of maturity as specified by supervisor and place into bushel baskets, taking extra time, care and effort not to bruise or scar the fruit.

The following description of job activities applies to apples and peaches.

Harvest: Workers will be assigned a row, usually with a partner, and are responsible for picking all the proper fruit from that row or half row. Fruit is selected from the tree according to size and/or color standard set by the picking supervisor. In some instances, fruit harvest will be done from an 8 or 16-foot ladder weighing up to 30 lbs. All workers must be able to lift and carry ladder, as well as work from the top of the ladder. The entire tree must be checked to ensure removal of all fruit meeting picking requirements. Fruit is placed gently in the picking container until the container is full. The full picking container, weighing up to 50 lbs., is then gently emptied into a field bin, taking care not to spill or bruise the fruit in the container or in the field bin.

Requirements

• Must have at least three months experience with apple tree training.
• Must lift 75 lbs.
• Exposure to extreme temperatures, repetitive movements, extensive push/pulling and extensive walking.
• Frequent stooping.
• Post-hire drug screening at employer expense.

The full terms and conditions of the job (form ETA790a) should be reviewed and provided to qualified applicants from this website: seasonaljobs.dol.gov. For assistance with this job order, please email [e-mail]. If applicable, please include the interested applicant’s name and job order number in the email.