Farm Worker

This job requires a minimum of 3 months of agricultural experience, preferably working in a vineyard handling both manual and mechanized tasks, preferably including pruning and, thinning and harvesting activities. Applicants must be able to furnish a written statement establishing relevant prior work experience.

Workers must be able to perform manual and mechanized tasks with accuracy and efficiency including:

• Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks.

• Bending, stooping and kneeling required.

• Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws.

• Use/handle ladders up to 12 ft. in length and weighing up to 40 lbs.

• Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies.

• Use power equipment including but not limited to: tractors, planters, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chain saws, high lifts, fork lifts, skid loaders. Must operate agricultural equipment safely, with or without direction.

• Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs.

• Assist with cleaning power equipment, power washing shop and general maintenance of shop.

• Plant, cultivate, and harvest grapes and peaches. Performs tasks under supervision in vineyard/orchard operation.

• Thin fruit and remove shoots and vines.

o Thinning: Hand thin to control the size and quality of fruit. Remove fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Must accurately identify and remove misshapen, damaged or otherwise unmarketable fruit.

• Performs vineyard maintenance activities, including mowing and weeding.

• Install and maintain vine trellises.

o Tie vines to trellises. Must possess the requisite skills and knowledge of what, when, where and how much to prune on a grape vine. Identify and remove the proper canes and vines while retaining the fruiting wood and renewal spurs. Must demonstrate and consistently utilize pruning practices that assure vine balance and preserve vine health.

o Pruning: Hand pruning based on fruit variety. Use manual and mechanized pruning tools and equipment. Identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots-suckers.

o Manage vineyard canopy to permit light and air circulation.

• May perform general tasks relative to vineyard operation when work in vineyard is not available.

Operate trucks or other multi-purpose vehicles to transport workers from housing (weather on or off the farm) to the farm properties; haul tools, supplies, or crops; transport workers from place to place around the farm properties during the workday (including on public

roads to reach the farm fields); and/or transport workers to the grocery store, bank, or laundry facilities on an as needed basis Those that are requested to drive will be required to possess an appropriate license; no one will be rejected for this position that does not possess a driver's license.

• Spraying: applicant will be required to operate a sprayer and use chemicals responsibly and wear the appropriate PPE that is required. Supervisor will train on PPE requirements depending on the chemical.

• Supervisors will explain and demonstrate picking requirements to all workers at the start of the season and as needed thereafter to ensure quality standards. Repeated failure to follow quality control instructions may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Requirements: 3 months of experience. 3 months verifiable experience working in a vineyard handling both manual and mechanized tasks. Workers with clean driving record and/or insurable driver's license may be requested to drive company vehicles.