Job Duties:
Workers will manually harvest a variety of peppers at proper maturity, taking care not to damage fruit or plants. They must be able to determine maturity level of produce quickly and consistently by color, firmness, and size. Supervisors will explain and demonstrate picking requirements to all workers at the start of the season and as needed thereafter to ensure quality standards are maintained. Workers will inspect harvested peppers for quality, removing damaged, diseased, or otherwise unmarketable produce. They will field pack harvested peppers into appropriate containers according to grade, size, and quality standards, and may also perform packing duties in the packing shed during inclement weather. Workers will pack and weigh boxes of peppers according to specified weight requirements and quality standards. Additional duties include participating in field cleanup activities such as picking up wooden stakes used for plant support, and removing and properly disposing of or storing plastic mulch from growing beds at end of harvest season. Workers must follow all food safety protocols and maintain sanitary conditions in the field and packing areas, and perform other related farm tasks as assigned by supervisor.
Special Requirements:
2 months prior experience harvesting vegetables on a farm is required. Work is performed outdoors in varying weather conditions, including high heat, humidity, and rain not severe enough to impact harvest. Workers must be able to perform repetitive movements, bend, stoop, lift/carry up to 30 lbs, and stand for extended periods.