Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse

at Servicios Agricolas Mex, Inc. in Eloy, Arizona, United States

Job Description

In order to perform this kind of work, workers must be able to work outside for at least 7 hours a day in all kinds of weather and be in possession of the requisite physical strength and endurance to conduct harvest activities, working rapidly and skillfully with hands. The worker will be provided with all necessary equipment to perform these harvest-related tasks.

Workers must be able to listen, understand, and follow the instruction of company supervisors and managers. Workers must be willing to perform all duties according to the employer's rules and regulations during the contract period.

Bare Root Rose Production - (must harvest enough Rose Bushes to fill the number or ordered trucks per day)

1. GRADER/SORTER- Hand-sort and organize harvested bare root rose bushes in the field according to grade using ANLA (American Nursery and Landscape Association) Standards and 3/8 bolt for comparison. a. Grade No. 1  At least three strong canes 5/16 inches (0.8 cm) in caliper and up, branched not higher than 3 inches (8cm) from the bud union. b. Grade No. 1  - At least two strong canes, 5/16 inches (0.8 cm) in caliper and up, branched not higher than 3 inches (8cm) from the bud union. c. Grade no. 2  At least two canes, one of which shall be a strong cane, 5/16 inch (0.8 cm) in caliper and up. The second shall be  1/4 inch (0.6 cm) in caliper, branched not higher than 3 inches (8 cm) from the bud union. d. Culls  Rose bushes that do not meet one of the three standards defined above.

2. BUNCHER  Hand collect and bundle bare-root rose bushes in the requested amounts, keeping true to variety by the bundle.

3. TYER  Hand tie the roots and the canes in bundles of ten in a tight uniform fashion, without damaging the plants. The plants are tied with nylon rope, which is cut within a 1-inch finger knife.

4. TICKETOR  Place a variety tag on each bundle based on grade and variety.

5. COLLECTOR  Hand collect and stage each bundle in the field.

6. BUNDLE THROWER  Toss bundles to the finisher/topper.

7. LOADING  Load each bundle on a trailer, keeping the no. 1 graded plants at the front and no. 1.5 and no. 2 graded plants in the back. Each change in variety must be marked with caution tape to keep the trailer organized by variety.

8. BUDDING  Lying in a prone position on a budding cart, the employee uses a budding knife to cut a small niche or seat under the stock. The employee then removes a bud scion from a whip or rose cutting and places it in the cut seat. A budding cart is a metal frame on wheels with a fabric sling that is propelled using the knees or feet.

9. TYING  Lying in a prone position on a budding cart, following the budder, the employee secures the bud scion to the stock using plastic budding tape, creating an air-tight seal. A budding cart is a metal frame on wheels with a fabric sling that is propelled using the knees or feet. 

Must have one month verifiable experience in the past two years of working with Bare Root Rose Production. This job requires a minimum of one month of agricultural experience working in diversified crops, handling manual and mechanical tasks, including agricultural field work.  Must be able to understand work & safety instructions in English or Spanish, the languages spoken and written in the workplace. Worker must attend required orientation, which time will be compensated. All workers will be evaluated by their supervisor after seven days of work with respect to appropriately handle crops and similar factors.