Field Workers

H2ajobs; Salinas (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Meals provided

Laundry facilities

Job summary

H2ajobs is seeking workers for field-based agricultural roles in California. Workers will harvest leeks, clean crops, and assist with transplanting operations under supervision, with emphasis on safety and efficiency. The job requires lifting up to 50 pounds, outdoor work in varying weather, and adherence to field protocols.

Housing and meals are provided, with shared facilities and utilities. Transportation provisions may apply for recruits from outside normal commuting distances.

Qualifications

• 2 months of work experience with produce, including harvest work.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds frequently and use hand tools including cutting knives.
• Work outdoors in varying weather conditions; open fields with mud, dust, wind, heat, and cold.

Responsibilities

• Harvest leeks in the field; trim, rinse, and sort by size and quality under supervisor guidance.
• Perform crop cleaning, weeding, and thinning as directed by field supervisor.
• Load trays into transplanting machines and assist with transplanting operations on the field.
• Operate or assist with tractor/machine/forklift tasks and daily equipment checks as required.

Skills

Stamina

Teamwork

Safety awareness

Job description

Leeks: Crops are harvested in the field. Employees walk along uneven furrows, bending and pulling leeks by the tops, cutting with a knife, removing excess dirt, selecting size and quality under the direction of the supervisor. The leeks are then tied together according to individual sizes. The bunched leeks are then placed on either a table or belt where they are trimmed and rinsed. Leeks are then placed into a carton or tote. Cartons or totes have specific count of bunches and or weight requirement.

Crop cleaning/weeding: Workers walk on uneven furrows. Under the direction of the field supervisor, field workers look for weeds around crops and in between product seed lines and use a long handled hoe to clean out unwanted product. The workers clean the lot for any unwanted leaves on the beds and seed lines and takes it out of the field as instructed by the field supervisor. Transplant: Field workers to perform the following duties: Field workers work on the transplanting machine platform and/or walk on uneven furrows behind a transplanting machine. As the machine moves, the workers working on the machine platform manually load trays of product into the transplanting machine to be inserted automatically by the machine into the soil. As the machine moves forward, under the direction of the field supervisor, the workers walk behind the machine on uneven furrows and have to carry trays of product. As field workers walk, they have to look for gaps not filled in by the transplanting machine. If there are gaps or product not transplanted correctly by the machine, the field worker has to manually grab the product from tray, the workers then bend at the waist and inserts (plants it) in the bed (on soil).

Crop thinning: Workers walk in uneven furrows. Under the direction of the field supervisor, field workers look for the specified gap between seeds, and using a long-handled hoe thins out any excess crop/seeds and/or weed on the seed line and leaves the desired product and gap on the field. The worker cleans the lot for any unwanted weed on the beds and seed lines and takes it out of the field as instructed by field supervisor.

Tractor/Machine/Forklift Driver: Under the direction of the supervisor the driver is responsible for supplying the tractor trailer/machine/forklift with packaging materials needed for specific packs, covering the completed pallets with a plastic liner to protect the finished cartons from inclement weather, loading and unloading produce bins, assist in preparing the harvest machine for immediate field operation, or movement to a new location. Directing tractor/machine/forklift through the field, pulling loaded trailers out. Employee must conduct daily maintenance check prior to operating tractor/machine/forklift. Required to have basic knowledge of driving a tractor/machine/forklift, must pass tractor/machine/forklift safety training and demonstrate ability to operate tractor/machine/forklift in a safe manner.

Workers may occasionally and/or sporadically perform duties associated with and directly related to the primary duties such as cleaning up field before during and after harvest, picking up trash, discarding cartons and assisting as safety monitor when equipment is turning in the field to begin a new pass.

If an employee is injured while on the job, the Company will provide a temporary work assignment that will be as closely related to the job duties described herein, while the employee recovers from a work-related illness which meets with physician's clearance to return to work under specific limitations. The work assignment will not be a permanent position, it will be temporary to accommodate the injured worker under doctor's restrictions and time period that may differ from the heavy field work described within.

Housing: Employer-provided (including mobile or range)

Meals: Workers occupying employer-provided housing in which full kitchen facilities are available will be responsible for preparing their own meals. Workers will purchase food at their own expense and prepare their own meals. Kitchen and eating facilities will be shared with other workers occupying the Company-provided housing facilities. Employer will provide workers with cooking and eating utensils. No kitchen facilities are provided to workers not occupying Company-provided housing. Laundry facilities are available at no cost to workers. Employer to provide access to purchase groceries at least once a week.

Transport: The following provisions pertaining to provision or reimbursement for inbound and return transportation and subsistence apply only to persons recruited from outside normal commuting distance.

Experience wanted: 2 months

Must have 2-month 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.

Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc. Must be able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions, including rain, cold, high winds, etc. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in the field or residential housing.

Work is performed in open fields and may involve exposure to mud, dust, wind, heat, cold, and other natural elements. Temperatures can range from 20 degrees Fahrenheit to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the period of employment. Workers should come prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear for the environmental and working conditions described.