at Purple Karat Enterprises Inc in Waddell, Arizona, United States
Job Description
Crops: Arugula-Wild Baby, Beets, Baby Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Cilantro, Collards, Corn, Cucumber – Armenian, Dandelion, Dill, Fennel, Garlic (Dry-May and on, Green), Green Beans, Head Lettuces, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Melons (Canteloupe, honeydew, etc.) Okra, Onion (Gree, Purple Bunching, Spring and Dry), Parsley, Peas (Snap or Snow), Potato, Raddish, Salad Mix/Mesclun, Spinach (baby bagged/washed), Squash (Hard, Summer (incl. zucchini) and Turnips. Workers will perform various duties associated with planting, harvesting, and packing the employer's products. This includes seed transplant in the field and/or greenhouse planting, cultivating and harvesting employer's crop. Workers will weed and thin crops in both a field and greenhouse setting. Workers will be expected to maintain high standards of excellence while harvesting product manually in the field and/or in greenhouse, including bunching of root vegetables in the packing shed. Workers will operate salad machinery to control speed and quality of product, and maintain a consistent flow of materials (raw product and packing materials) to the rest of the line workers. Workers will load and unload product from/to pallets, workers will load and unload product from the truck manually and using a pallet jack. Workers will monitor the temperature of raw salad produce, finished salad product, and processing room & water. Workers will inspect all ingredients to ensure conformance to strict company specifications, Workers will need to weigh, identify, and palletize finished produce and store in cooler. Workers will make boxes for finished product, take samples and check products for quality control and shipping. Workers will report any problems to the production manager and/or farm manager. Workers must have the ability to work with a team and alone. Workers will work as a crew on harvester. Workers will assist in ensuring the cleanliness and sanitation of the salad processing plant, cooler, equipment, and other general facility cleaning. Properly licensed workers that read, speak and understand English directions, and are trained and have experience may be assigned to
operate tractors. Those workers will be assigned as tractor drivers during daily operations, as an incidental activity. This will occur during various stages of the growing season from planting to harvesting, to post-harvest field clean up. Duties will include hooking up farm implements, or extensions using bolts and hand tools. Workers must be able to drive tractors with 20 feet wide implements and safely handle tight U turns. Some of the duties associated with tractor driving is mixing and spraying chemicals, before any worker is required to operate any tractors, workers will be instructed in safety and operation of the tractor before driving the tractor. Tractors must be driven in a manner to protect operator, other workers, products, trees, crops and equipment. Workers assigned to tractors must remain alert while driving and servicing tractors and other farm equipment. Workers must always drive at the proper speed. Workers that work as tractor driver must report any issues with the equipment to their immediate supervisor. Workers may perform preventative maintenance on tractors and other farm equipment inkling lubricating it and farm implements. Guide products on conveyors to regulate flow through machines and to discard diseased or rotten products.
Workers will need a full understanding and must comply with safety rules. Workers must be visually able bodied and able to lift at least 50 lbs., must be able to work in tight areas that require lifting, bending, climbing up and down on large equipment. Repeated failure to obey safety requirements and operating instructions may result in termination.
Work is to be done for long periods of time in the field, when plants may be wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers ability to perform the job. Workers must be able to perform the required work with or without reasonable accommodations. Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing appropriate work clothing and boots or other durable foot wear. Casual clothing not permitted. Workers wearing inappropriate clothing will not be permitted to start work. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break when working more than 5 hours. Must report to work at the designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedules may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start/end times. Employer may request, but not require that workers work more than the stated daily hours, on the worker's Sabbath, or on federal holidays. Workers may not report for work under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol on company worksites or vehicles is prohibited and will be cause for immediate termination. Out of concern for the safety of other workers, staff or the public at large, the employer reserves the right to terminate for cause, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, any worker found during the period of employment to have a criminal conviction record or status as a registered sex offender. The work described herein is regular, seasonal full-time work requiring all workers to be available as stated on the standard work schedule, throughout the entire contract period. Employees may experience a temporary reduction in work and/or a temporary work stoppage due to the natural agricultural cycle. Employer also retains the right to terminate workers for lawful job-related reasons, including but not limited to workers who: are regularly absent or tardy; malingers or otherwise refuses to work in
accordance with direction, or is otherwise obviously unqualified to perform the job; is physically able but does not demonstrate the willingness to perform the work necessary. Non-U.S. workers may be terminated if one or more U.S. workers becomes available for the job during the employer's recruitment period. Job abandonment will be deemed to occur after five consecutive workdays of unexcused absences. Foreign workers will be advised of their responsibility to depart the U.S. when employment comes to an end. Employer will request and maintain records of each worker's permanent home address, e-mail address (when available) and phone number. During certain times of the season workers may be required to work at night. Workers will be given as much notice as possible when changing shifts are required.
Workers will need full understanding and must comply with food safety rules and excellent personal hygiene. Workers must be visually able bodied and able to lift at least 50 lbs. Sanitation Requirements: For food and general personal safety purposes, all workers will be required and expected to follow common sanitary practices at all times. This is particularly critical when hand harvesting crops for human consumption. Employees are required to cleanse their hands by washing them thoroughly with soap and water after using the bathroom and before entering the fields for harvest activities or the packing facility for packing operations. GENERAL CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL CROPS: Field work begins at assigned time, which can vary from either before daylight or shortly after daylight, to afternoon start times. Work environment will be dirty, dusty, and damp, with temperature fluctuations according to the season. Work is performed during light rain and in high humidity and in temperatures ranging from 100+ degrees to below 35 degrees F. Workers must have multi-limb coordination ability while standing, walking, and climbing for long periods while pruning and harvesting. Workers will work on their feet in bent position for long periods of time. Workers will supply their own work clothes. Workers must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. consistently throughout the day. Workers will make repetitive movements, extensive pushing, pulling, and walking. Workers may be required to perform work on the farm that is incidental to farming the crops listed in the application. The employer retains the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able to but does not demonstrate the willingness to perform the work
necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product. During certain duties, workers may be required to work in teams to accomplish a certain task. When engaged in teamwork activities workers must coordinate with other members of the team to accomplish the task. Full Growing Season Commitment: The job offered requires that the worker be available for work 10 hours per day Monday-Friday and 6 hours Saturday every day that work is available for the full period of employment, even though work may be slack for brief periods at any point during the season. The worker agrees to be available for work and perform the assigned work for the employer whenever work is available through the full period of employment. Work available is defined as, no work required on the worker Sabbath or federal holidays, but work is required ten hours per day Monday- Friday and six hours on Saturday. The worker understands that if he abandons his employment or is terminated for cause prior to the end of the period of employment period he will forfeit the 3/4 guarantee and reimbursement of certain transportation costs described elsewhere in this job order. Excessive absences and/or tardiness, as defined in the Work Rules, cannot be tolerated, and may result in termination.
Daily individual work assignments, crew assignments, and location of work, will be made by and at the sole discretion of the farm manager and/or farm supervisor as the needs of the farming operation dictate. Workers may be assigned a variety of duties in any given day and /or different tasks on different days. Workers will be expected to perform any of the listed duties and work on any crop as assigned by the worker's supervisor. Harvesting specifications, in particular, can change from time to time during the season due to crop or market conditions, even on the same crop. Workers will be expected to conform to the specific instructions given for each day's work. The farm owner/supervisor or a designated employee will provide specific instructions and close supervision. Workers will be expected to perform their duties in a timely and proficient manner and will have close supervision to insure adherence to instruction. Work will be closely monitored and reviewed for quality. Worker must possess the physical strength and endurance (ability to continue or last) to repeat the harvest process though out the workday, working quickly and skillfully to perform activities assigned during that activity. Workers must work at a sustained (continuing for an extended period of time without interruption), vigorous pace (quick and steady) and make bona fide efforts (made in earnest intent) to work
efficiently (performing or functions in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort) and consistently (same way for a long time) that are reasonable under the climatic and other working conditions, Workers may not leave trash, or other discarded items in work areas or vehicles but must dispose of such items in provided receptacles. Workers must wash hands with soap and water after all bathroom and meal breaks. Allergies to varieties of ragweed, goldenrod, insecticides, related agricultural chemicals, etc., may affect worker's ability to perform the work described herein. The following definitions are provided to assist all workers with the employer's work standards. Work/Job Specification Definitions: a) Sloppy: not careful or neat: showing a lack of care, attention, or effort. b) bona fide: made with earnest intent c) earnest: serious in intention, purpose, or effort: d) sustained: continuing for an extended period or without interruption. e) endurance: the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress or other adverse conditions. f) efficiently: performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort. g) consistently: Same way over a long period of time.
All workers should have at least 2 months experience harvesting crops on a commercial farm. Applicants must be able to furnish
affirmative job references from recent employers operating comparable operations establishing acceptable previous experience. All
Workers must be at least 18 years of age. Must be physically able to meet and perform all job specifications stated in job order,
including lifting of 50 lbs. Employer reserves the right to conduct employer-paid random, upon suspicion and/or post-accident drug
testing in accordance with state law. Any employee who declines to take or fails a drug test will be immediately terminated. Must be
able to work in the hot humid weather for extended periods of time. Team working skills and the aptitude to work alone; Full
understanding and must comply with food safety rules and excellent personal hygiene.
