Seasonal Orchard Worker

H2ajobs; Talent (OR); On-site; USD 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Meals provided

Transport to market and services

Job summary

H2ajobs is hiring seasonal orchard workers for Pear and Peach production in the Pacific Northwest. Tasks include dormant pruning, tree training, limb positioning, sucker removal, blossom thinning, and limited planting. Post-bloom duties cover fruit thinning and disease wood removal to uphold crop quality.

Workers follow established procedures for the variety and form, may use ladders or platforms, and operate basic pruning tools. Safety gear and PPE are provided by the employer.

Qualifications

• No prior experience required; 0 months expected.
• Physical stamina for farm labor and lifting.
• Willingness to follow safety PPE and procedures.
• Ability to work outdoors in varied weather.

Responsibilities

• Perform dormant pruning, tree training, limb positioning, sucker removal, and flowering tasks as seasonal needs require.
• Assist post-bloom duties including fruit thinning and disease wood removal to support fruit quality.
• Follow company procedures for pruning, planting, and general orchard maintenance.
• Operate basic pruning tools (hand loppers, hand shears, hand saws) and, where available, mobile platforms.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety; communicate with crew and supervisors.

Job description

Seasonal Orchard Worker orchard labor associated with pear and peach production from the dormant season through post-bloom operations.

Duties include dormant pruning, tree training, limb positioning, sucker removal, peach blossom thinning, dormant tree planting, frost protection activities, disease wood removal, fruit thinning, and related orchard cultural practices.

Post-bloom operations include disease wood removal, fruit thinning, and other orchard practices necessary to support fruit quality, tree health, and crop production through the end of the season.

Follow training instructions based on established company procedures specific to the variety being pruned and tree form desired.

Dormant work also includes tree training or limb positioning to establish productive tree structure.

This involves using string, hammer, and nail, or branch spreaders to manipulate branches into desired positions.

This position also includes the removal of branches that sprout from the trunk of the tree referred to as sucker growth.

All wood cut during pruning and sucker removal must be positioned in the row middle for future mechanical mulching.

This position may perform peach flower removal at the onset of bloom in peaches if timing overlaps with dormant pear pruning.

Blossom thinning is the hand removal of unwanted flowers.

Limited dormant tree planting is performed each year during the contract period and may offer alternate work if pruning is not available due to weather.

As the season progresses, workers may also perform disease wood removal, fruit thinning, and other post-bloom orchard activities as assigned.

Described Safety rules must be followed, and all provided PPE must be worn including safety glasses, and gloves provided.

Communicate with work groups, co-workers, and supervisors in a professional manner; provide general maintenance, and care of company buildings, grounds, and equipment.

Must be able to perform physical work common to dormant Pear and Peach tree pruning, tree training, and sucker removal in established orchards, as well as post-bloom fruit thinning and disease wood removal activities.

Capable of proficient and safe use of a 10-ft orchard ladder weighing up to 50 lbs.

Pruning standards are set on a block-by-block basis within each orchard, based on planting density, age of the trees, and vigor in each block.

The applicable block standard will be communicated to workers prior to beginning work in each block.

Upon commencement of employment, workers will have a three-week training period to reach the per-block standards.

Workers who have not reached the standards by the end of the third week following commencement of employment will be given additional coaching and a final week to improve their performance to acceptable standards.

Use common pruning tools that include hand lopper, hand shears, or hand saws.

An option to prune from a mobile platform eliminating ladder work may be available in limited situations.

Work in varied weather conditions that include cold damp days common to the Pacific Northwest from late November through the end of May.

• Housing: Employer-provided (including mobile or range)
• Meals: Employer will furnish free and convenient cooking and kitchen facilities.
• Semi-weekly transport will also be provided to and from the market and other services.
• Housing will be provided to workers who are not reasonably able to return to their permanent residence at the end of the workday.
• Transport: Employer will provide or reimburse the most economical and reasonable inbound transportation and daily subsistence from the worker’s place of origin to the place of employment, and outbound transportation and daily subsistence back to the place of origin upon completion of the contract or early termination for reasons beyond the worker’s control.

Experience wanted: 0 months

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