Farm Worker

Work description

Workers will perform manual and mechanized agricultural labor associated with the cultivation, care, maintenance, and production of grapes in vineyards. Duties include pruning and trimming grapevines; removing unwanted branches, dead wood, and excess vegetation; pulling, gathering, and removing brush and pruned vines from vineyard rows; tying and securing grape canes to fruiting wires; training and positioning vines for proper growth and fruit production; and maintaining vineyard trellis systems, including installing, adjusting, tightening, and repairing posts, stakes, support wires, and fruiting wires. Workers will perform suckering of grapevines by removing unwanted shoots and growth from trunks and vine bases; thinning grape clusters and excess fruit to improve grape quality; removing leaves surrounding grape clusters to improve sunlight exposure and air circulation; tying up suckers, loose canes, and damaged vines; and repairing or supporting damaged vines as necessary. Workers will perform vine training, shoot positioning, canopy management, and other vineyard maintenance activities necessary for proper grape development. Additional duties include digging, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, removal of weeds and brush, and general vineyard upkeep. Workers will use hand tools, including but not limited to pruning shears, loppers, clippers, saws, hoes, and shovels. Workers may use ladders up to 12 feet in length and weighing up to 60 pounds. Workers may hand pack bottles into boxes. Workers may operate agricultural equipment, including tractors, planters, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chain saws, high lifts, fork lifts, and skid loaders, as necessary to perform vineyard operations. Workers will assist with cleaning, maintaining, and making minor repairs to agricultural equipment, tools, vineyard structures, and farm buildings. Duties may include power washing equipment, cleaning work areas, and maintaining vineyard grounds. Workers may assist with planting, cultivating, and harvesting grapes and peaches as needed during the period of employment. Workers will lift, carry, load, and unload agricultural products, tools, materials, and supplies. 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. Workers must be able to perform physically demanding agricultural work, including repeated bending, stooping, kneeling, standing, walking, lifting, and carrying. Workers must be able to follow instructions, work independently or as part of a crew, and safely operate agricultural tools and equipment with or without direction. A minimum of two months of agricultural experience is required, preferably involving vineyard work, pruning, thinning, or harvesting. Workers must be able to perform assigned manual and mechanized agricultural tasks accurately, efficiently, and safely.