Field Worker, Citrus Shed, Van driver, Crew Leader

Foothill Packing Inc; Yuma (AZ); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Foothill Packing Inc. is seeking Field Workers for Citrus Shed, Olive and Date harvest operations in Yuma, AZ. You'll perform heavy labor, climb ladders, and use hand shears to harvest fruit, then bag and load into sacks and bins.

Responsibilities include pruning, hoeing, planting, packing shed duties, and forklift operation, all while following supervisor instructions and safety protocols. Start times vary with weather; must wear safety gear and maintain clean work areas.

Responsibilities

• Harvesting Citrus, Olives and Dates according to color/size requirements.
• Climbing ladders (regular and 3-point) to pick fruit.
• Use hand shears to cut, bag fruit into 50-lb sacks and move to bins.
• Prune, hoe, and plant citrus, date palms and olive trees; follow supervisor techniques.
• Operate bagging equipment and citrus packing shed tasks including grading, labeling, and packing cartons.
• Move and stack bins, clean work areas and machinery, ensure sanitation and safety procedures.
• Operate forklifts and assist with inventory, loading trucks, and warehouse tasks.

Tools

Forklift operation

Job description

Field Workers, Citrus Shed, Citrus Van Drivers, and Crew Leader

Heavy labor of harvesting Citrus, Olives and Dates as per color and size requirements. Climbing regular and 3-point ladder as needed to pick fruit.

Employees will be using proper shears for picking citrus. Cutting, not pulling, the citrus with hand shear; putting fruit into bag sacks, carried on the front of the body, with straps around the shoulder and back for support. The sack full of fruit can weigh up to 50 lbs. The sack is then emptied into bin in a manner instructed by supervisor. This is repeated until the bin is full.

Employees will need to walk around the tree, under the tree, and inside the tree and from a ladder to pick the appropriate fruit. Employees will be wearing safety protection, hard hats, gloves, protective sleeves, knee pads, and eye protection.

Employees will be pruning and hoeing citrus, date, and olive trees, using both hands pruning shears, pruning loppers and long handled hoes. Employees will be expected to follow the direction and techniques specific to various trees from the supervisor. Employees will be planting citrus. Start times vary depending on the weather (fog or heavy dew). Fruit cannot be picked until it is dry on the outside of the fruit.

Performs maintenance in and around the ranch such as cleaning and repairing irrigation canals, weeding and thinning with a long handle hoe around trees and irrigation valves, and trash removal.

Tree Work (All tree work & harvest)

All tree work (Citrus, Date Palms/Olive Trees) requires either working from the ground while standing or walking on uneven ground or working from a basket/platform that is raised by a forklift or reach lift that will be raised off the ground that could be as high as 55 feet off the ground. Employees in basket/platform are required to wear safety harnesses.

Specific to Date Palms - De-thorn job is done by removing thorns from palms with curved knife while standing on the ground or in a raised platform, by moving the knife along the edges of the frond removing the thorns.

Citrus Packing Shed Operations

Perform pre-grading activities, including operating bin dump and leveling citrus fruit in bins to prevent over-filling. Remove and discard waste prior to grading and sorting process.

Assemble and label cartons, fill cartons with citrus fruits. Insert cartons into electronic sizer to be filled. Monitor that citrus cartons are filled properly and carton flow operates smoothly. Remove any cartons not meeting grade standard.

Empty, clean and refill water tanks. Ensure bins are clean. Remove dirt and trash, wash with water. Assemble and label bins to be filled with citrus fruit. Dump cartons filled with citrus fruit into clean bins to required filling capacity. Move empty bins manually.

Bag graded fruit and put in specified cartons/boxes. Operate automatic electric bagging equipment. Assemble and label cartons/boxes to contain bagged fruit. Assemble bags and fill the bagging machine.

Remove filled bags, apply bag ties, and put in specified cartons/boxes. Rework degraded citrus fruit in cartons. Set cartons on rollers or shoots. Sort citrus fruit to remove degraded material, rearrange citrus fruit to specifications. Stack filled cartons/boxes.

Remove cartons/boxes from conveyor and stack similar cartons/boxes together. Remove and discard citrus fruit and waste left along line. Clean work area and equipment. Empty trash.

May operate post-harvest fruit grading equipment and assist as safety monitor when equipment is being operated. Must maintain awareness of industrial and fruit grading equipment, and respond to industrial sounds and warnings, such as industrial vehicles, horns, etc. Tasks may include forceful grasping, lifting, carrying (in a stooped position, at waist level and overhead) to 40 + pounds.

Load and unload trucks. Carry items to warehouse and maintain inventory. Clean warehouse, utilize space efficiently. Ensure proper storage of product. Follow safety procedures, use required safety gear and operate machinery safely. Warehouse machinery may include forklifts, jacks, and shrink wrap machines. Record loaded/unloaded items in logs. Track inventory and process product. Tasks may include repeated bending, stooping, and lifting to 40+ pounds.

Operate forklift. Utilize forklift to move filled bins and stacked citrus fruit. Prepare merchandise for transport. Perform regular maintenance and repairs on forklifts and other machinery. Communicate with supervisor to determine priorities.

Clean and sanitize the forklift. May prepare items to be moved and use scanners to track items. Other duties may include monitoring for damaged goods and possible hazards and recording data about product being moved.

Use approved chemicals to disinfect surfaces. Disassemble, sanitize, and reassemble all components of fruit grading equipment. Clean floors. Ensure building ventilation system is clean and in working order. Stock restrooms with required supplies. Report potential sanitation issues to management. Clean and sanitize drains. Remove and dispose of waste and discarded fruit along line.

Van Driver Specifications (Secondary Job Duty)

Responsible for transporting workers from housing sites and pick-up points to take