Field Worker (Harvest) and Ag Equip Operator

Foothill Packing Inc; Yuma (AZ); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Foothill Packing Inc. in Arizona is seeking reliable farm laborers to harvest and prepare lettuce for value-added processing. You will walk uneven furrows, cut, bag, pack, and inspect quality at fields and conveyors. Heavy lifting up to 50 lbs and use of harvesting knives are required.

A minimum of 1 month experience with produce is preferred; work may involve dirt, mud, and exposure to the elements. Training provided on site.

Qualifications

• 1+ month experience with produce is preferred.
• Ability to perform heavy lifting up to 50 lbs repeatedly.
• Must be able to use harvesting knives and other hand tools.

Responsibilities

• Harvest lettuce in fields and load onto belts or pallets.
• Bag, pack, and prepare lettuce for processing and shipment.
• Inspect product quality and remove defective items.

Skills

Harvest experience

Physical stamina

Knife handling

Tools

Harvest knife

Hand tools

Job description

Must have 1 months 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. (Clean and Core of Head Lettuce, Head Lettuce, Romaine Carton, Romaine Top and Tail Value added, and Heart/Mixed Leaf carton). Clean and Core of Head Lettuce: Heavy field work to harvest cored head lettuce in preparation for value added processing. Employees walk in uneven furrows behind a harvesting conveyor belt or riding a machine platform to cut the produce. Under the direction of the field Supervisors, the worker then determines the size and quality of the cored lettuce to be harvested and using a harvesting knife with a coring attachment, the employee bends at the waist, grasps produce and cuts the head from its roots. Employee then trims the outer leaves from the head and removes core with the coring attachment. Employees inspect the head lettuce for defects and places head onto the belt. The process is repeated. The cored lettuce is then carried down the belt where employees inspect quality, core, and remove loose leaves prior to being dropped in a bin where it is sorted to bin capacity. Bins are constructed and sorted directly on the trailer on a pallet. Bins may weigh up to 50 lbs. empty. Pallets may weigh up to 95 lbs. empty. Between two workers empty pallets are carried and assembled. Head Lettuce: Heavy field work to harvest head lettuce. Employees cut, bag, pack, and heart lettuce in the field. Employees 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. 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. Romaine Top & Tail: Heavy field work to harvest romaine lettuce in preparation for value added processing. Employees will walk in uneven furrows behind a harvesting conveyor belt to cut the produce. Under the direction of the field Supervisors, the worker then determines the size and quality of the romaine lettuce to be harvested and using a harvesting knife, the employee bends at the waist, grasps produce and cuts the head from its roots. Employees then trim the outer leaves from the head and places head onto table. The process is repeated. The romaine is then topped and cored then carried down the belt where employees inspect quality, core, and remove loose leaves prior to being dropped in a bin where it is sorted to bin capacity. Bi s are constructed and sorted directly on the trailer on a pallet. Bins may weigh up to 50 lbs. empty. Pallets may weigh up to 95 lbs. empty. Between two workers empty pallets are carried and assembled. Romaine, Hearts, Mix Leaf: Heavy field work to harvest romaine, heart and mix leaf. 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. 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 t