Job Information
Southern Vermont Orchards AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT OPERATORS in Bennington, Vermont
9 Full Time Seasonal H-2A Jobs available 7/22/2024 - 10/31/2024.
Operate trucks, tractors, or other multi-purpose vehicles to transport workers from housing (whether on or off 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 farmers fields); and/or transport workers to the grocery store, or bank on an as-needed basis. Load agricultural products into trucks, and drive trucks to market or storage facilities. Not all workers are requested to drive; drivers will be required to possess a valid operators license. No one will be rejected for the position that does not possess a class D license. All applicants must be able, willing and qualified to perform the work described in the job order and must be available for the entire period of employment specified in the contract. Job duties include pruning, thinning, general orchard work and harvesting produce in an apple orchard as well as field work of weeding, thinning, hoeing and other duties related to the planting, maintaining and harvesting of strawberries and blueberries. In addition, workers may be asked to drive tractors, pick up brush from orchard floor, pick rocks to prepare soil for planting, repair broken bins, plant and water trees and perform other farm related duties as the need arises. Workers may also work in a packing house, load and unload trucks, pack apples into totes and drive trucks to remove apple bins from the outlying orchard at harvest time. Workers will harvest apples from approximately August 15th to October 31st. Productivity during apple harvest must be at least 60 1-1/8 bu boxes per 7 hours worked with no more than 5% bruising for fresh market. The employer will provide 1 day of training and allow 2 days of work for the worker to satisfactorily perform the duties described in the job description. Workers may supervise crews of up to 10 workers during apple harvest. Bonuses may be offered to any seasonal worker employed pursuant to this job order, at the companies sole discretion, based on individual factors including work performance, skill and tenure. Workers should report to work with their own suitable work clothing. Workers must be willing to work in varied weather conditions, including temperatures as low as 25 degrees with snow up to one foot deep and as high as 90 degrees with damp mornings. Workers must be able to handle and climb 20 foot ladders and know how to use a chain saw. Work requires long period of standing, bending and kneeling, as well as climbing ladders for long periods of time. Workers must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs on a continuous basis and be available to work Monday through Saturday. Employer will furnish workers all tools and equipment required to perform the duties assigned. Worker will be given 30 minutes for lunch. Beginning and ending times will vary depending on the conditions in the orchard. Due to health & safety concerns on our farm workers must understand basic instruction in English.
Requirements: * One month experience * Able to lift and carry 50 lbs. on a frequent basis * Exposure to extreme temperatures * long periods of standing, bending and kneeling, as well as climbing ladders for long periods of time * Workers must be able to take directions in simple English * Extensive pushing or pulling, sitting or walking, repetitive movements
The full terms and conditions of the job (form ETA790a) should be reviewed and provided to qualified applicants from this website: seasonaljobs.dol.gov