Field Worker (Harvest) and Ag Equip Operator

Foothill Packing Inc; Arizona; On-site; USD 16,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Foothill Packing Inc. in Arizona is seeking workers for field harvesting and related duties. The role involves heavy lifting, working with produce, and handling equipment in muddy conditions.

You will harvest romaine and leaf lettuce, cut and bag in the field, and assist with packing and palletizing. Training is provided; prior farm experience is a plus. This job requires physical stamina and safety awareness, with emphasis on following supervisors and maintaining quality during the harvest

Qualifications

• Must have 1 month of work experience with produce including harvest work.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work in dirty conditions.

Responsibilities

• Harvest romaine, heart, mix leaf, and head lettuce in the field.
• Cut, bag, pack, and load produce into cartons or totes.
• Inspect size and quality, trim leaves, and prepare for packaging.
• Operate hand knives and bend to harvest; stack totes on pallets.
• Assist packers and loaders; follow supervisors' directions.

Skills

Lifting 50 lbs

Color vision

Hand tools

Mud tolerance

Tools

Harvest knife

Tractor/harvester operation

Job description

Requirements

Must have 1 month of work experience with the produce as defined in this application including harvest work. Specific requirements include lifting to 50 pounds frequently and being able to use hand tools, including cutting knives. Cannot be color blind due to the need to distinguish colors of crops. Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc.

Harvesting Duties

Romaine, Heart, Mix Leaf, and Head Lettuce: Heavy field work to harvest romaine, heart, mix leaf, and head lettuce. Employees cut, bag, pack, and load fresh romaine, head, and heart lettuce in the field. Employees will walk in uneven furrows behind a harvesting platform machine or belt to cut the produce. Under the direction of the field Supervisors, employees determine size and quality of the product to be harvested employees determine size and quality of the product to be harvested. Then, using a harvesting hand knife and bending at the waist, the employee grasps the produce, cuts the head from the roots, and trims the outer leaves from the head to prepare it to be placed into a carton or tote. Cutter places the product on a table for the packer to either or combination of, tie, spot wash, sort, wrap, seal and place into a carton or tote. Packers will secure empty containers from designated racks, insert lining material as necessary and fill the carton or totes to specification. Once totes, cartons or bins are filled they are pushed on to conveyor belt for loaders to close/cover and stack on the pallet. The cartons or totes for the product are constructed by unfolding and bending the material as designed to form a box. Carton is labeled and marked as required. The process is repeated. The cartons, totes or bins are lifted then stacked onto pallets on the deck of the harvester or trailer. Cartons or totes with product can weigh up to 50 lbs. Empty bins Pallets can weigh up to 95 lbs. Between two workers the empty pallets are carried and bins are assembled.

Agricultural Equipment Operator Duties

Agricultural Equipment Operator: Are responsible for setting up, maintaining, and inspecting equipment prior to start of day. Workers will assist in preparing harvest machines for immediate field operation, or movement to a new location. Workers will operate tractors, tractor drawn machinery, and harvest machines to harvest crops. They will operate tractors and harvesters through the furrows, towing loaded trailers on and off the field harvested area. They are also responsible for the following day, such as the setup of the tractors and harvesters, cartons for the harvested crops, fuel for the tractor, and general service of the equipment being used at the field. Workers are required to have basic knowledge of driving tractors and harvesters, must pass tractor/machine safety training, and demonstrate ability to operate tractors and harvesters in a safe manner. Workers may occasionally and/or sporadically perform duties associated with and directly related to the primary duties. Such work will be temporary and unsubstantial agricultural labor.