Workers will perform assigned duties as described in this clearance order and as instructed by their supervisors.
Apple Harvesting: Harvesting apples by hand under the direction of the supervisor. The worker will place a canvas and metal picking sack equipped with a shoulder strap over their shoulder and carry an 18' to 20' ladder from the field truck to the designated area of the orchard. A fully loaded sack weighs approximately 35 to 40 pounds, depending upon the size, condition, and variety of the fruit. The worker positions the ladder in a secure, leaning position against the tree within reach of the fruit, taking care to prevent slipping, falling, or causing injury to themselves or others, and ensuring they do not break limbs, damage the tree, or knock off fruit. Workers will carefully remove fruit from the tree by hand and place it into the picking sack, leaving the stems attached to the apples. When the sack is full, the worker will take it to the fruit bin and carefully dump the contents. All harvested fruit is destined for the fresh market and must be handled with extreme care to remain completely bruise-free.
Orchard Maintenance: Under supervisor instruction, workers will perform various crop care activities. These duties include applying pheromone cages to trees, planting, tying, training, sprouting, root inspection, irrigation assistance, young tree care, box repair, mowing, weed removal, debris removal, fertilizer application, and general orchard maintenance. General field tasks include stacking tree limbs in designated areas, shoveling soil, picking up rocks, and performing basic irrigation maintenance or minor repairs.
Workers will climb agricultural ladders and prune trees using hand pruners, loppers, or an 8-foot pole pruner. Following supervisor direction and employer-provided training, workers will prune trees by removing designated dead or broken branches, suckers, water sprouts, and downward-growing spurs using hand or employer-provided pruning equipment. Workers must be able to repeatedly climb and descend ladders while carrying a picking sack weighing up to approximately 40 pounds and safely handle and position ladders up to 20 feet in length (weighing up to 40 pounds). Workers must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds. The work requires prolonged standing, extensive walking, repetitive hand and arm movements, and frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, and reaching. Workers are responsible for maintaining employer-provided housing and work areas in a clean and orderly condition in accordance with employer housing rules.
Incidental Equipment Assistance: Workers may occasionally assist with the positioning of equipment or movement of harvested apples within the farm premises. If workers are assigned to operate farm tractors or forklifts, such operation will be limited to routine on-farm activities, performed only after employer-provided training, under employer supervision, and only if permitted by applicable safety requirements. Such operation is incidental to the primary agricultural duties and does not constitute a primary job duty. No prior experience operating tractors or forklifts is required.
Employment period: Sep 5, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027
