Farmworkers and Laborers

Cotton Hope Orchards will be utilizing the staggered start date for their 2027 H2A workers.

53 workers January 4, 2027

10 workers February 12, 2027

65 workers for April 1, 2027

42 workers for April 30, 2027

The farm work position includes duties associated with the planting, pruning, thinning, picking and packing of peaches, watermelons, plums, scuppernongs, cotton, soybeans, squash, green vegetables and strawberries. This work can require standing, walking, stooping, bending, and lifting up to 65 pounds for long periods of time outdoors in all weather conditions. It also includes making important decisions based on size, coloring, and ripeness according to prescribed standards.

This work requires adherence to important food safety and quality standard operating procedures and the ability to work quickly and consistently alongside fellow workers with a positive, professional, team-based attitude and a consideration for the safety and health of fellow workers and of the consumers who will purchase and consume the fresh produce grown, harvested, packed, and shipped from the farm.

Job Specifications

Pruning Peach/Plum Trees: While pruning trees, workers will receive proper tools for the particular job, i.e., saw, prunes, and hand snips. These tools will be returned to the employer at the end of the task. The cost of tools destroyed maliciously or lost carelessly will be charged to the worker. The supervisor will set a standard or pattern for each orchard and will demonstrate and communicate this to workers. Workers will be assigned rows of trees and must prune each tree according to the predetermined standard. In some instances, fruit pruning will be done from a six/eight foot ladder weighing up to 30 lbs. All workers must be able to lift and carry ladder, as well as work from the top of the ladder. Workers must remove all resulting material from the fruit trees rendered from performing pruning tasks. When pruning is complete on each tree, each worker is required to rake and scatter the resulting brush in the center of the tractor/equipment middles. As each row is pruned, workers will receive credit for the number of trees pruned. This number is transferred manually or electronically for production records. Workers will be required to pick up and return pruning ladders to the ladder wagon provided by the grower at the end of each work day or as directed by the grower or designed supervisor.

Thinning Peach/Plum Trees: While thinning trees, workers will be instructed as to how close together fruit should be spaced and which fruit are most desirable to leave or take. The supervisor will set a standard or pattern for each orchard and will demonstrate and communicate this to workers. In some instances, fruit thinning will be done from a six/eight foot ladder weighing up to 30 lbs. All workers must be able to lift and carry ladder, as well as work form the top of the ladder. Rows will be assigned to each worker and it is the responsibility of the worker to complete the trees on the row according to the supervisor's instructions. Limbs must not be torn from the tree, nor should limbs be completely stripped of leaves or fruit. Proper spacing and selection of fruit are critical to maximizing the trees potential yield. Fruit thinners will thin fruit using hands and/or plastic bat to knock off excess fruit taking care to walk around entire tree before moving to the next. Workers will be required to pick up and return thinning ladders to the ladder wagon provided by the grower at the end of each work day or as directed by the grower or designed supervisor. Repeated failure to obey safety requirements and operating instructions may result in termination.

Picking Peaches/Plums: Worker will be assigned a row, usually with a partner, and is responsible for picking all the proper fruit from that row, or half row. Fruit are selected from the tree according to size and/or color standard set by the picking supervisor. In some instances

Requirements: 2 months of experience. Employer may conduct drug/alcohol testing post-employment and at the employer's expense.

Employer may conduct criminal background check post-employment and at the employer's expense.