Description:
Harvester/Packer
20-Positions available on Oahu for the period of August 15, 2024, through June 14, 2025
Job Duties:
BASIL/HERBS CROPS: Field worker responsibilities include planting, weeding, harvest, and other duties relating to growing and harvesting basil and various herb crops. Planting process starts with a tractor (done by farm manager or trained employees) that prepares the fields and makes the beds. Irrigation drip lines are then pulled across on top of the beds. The beds are then covered with a ground cover to help prevent weeds, and holes are cut into the ground cover. The cuttings are planted in the holes of the ground cover. Wind breaks may also need to be installed or replaced on the poles in between sections during the planting phase. Weeding includes pulling out weeds that may have infiltrated through holes or cracks in the ground cover. This can be done by hand or by tools. Roughing includes identifying and removing undesirable plants based on quality, yield, or market requirements. Harvesting involves manually harvesting the stems of crops using provided scissors. Other tasks may include manually moving baskets of harvested crops, cuttings, or other general farm clean up. Field workers will utilize various provided tools and equipment, including, but not limited to washers, containers, baskets, cleaning equipment, hand tools, forklifts (if trained), trucks and trailers (driver's license required), tractors (if trained), sprayers, packing materials (such as boxes, plastic bags, insulation, gel packs), and other various equipment. Field workers will be given the task procedures and specific training for each task if assigned and willing. Field workers will also undergo mandatory food safety training and meetings.Field workers will continuously strive to do each duty with expertise and produce quality product. Cultivation and harvest skills in low-lying crop such as: Sweet basil, Thai basil, other possible herb varieties.
Packing workers will be given the task of packing would involve folding out and taping the cardboard box with tape. Bagging the basil into 1 pound plastic bags using a weight scale and putting them into the box, then taping the box when 18-20 bags are in. Loose packing would involve putting a plastic liner into the
cardboard box and putting loose stems of basil in until it weights 18-20 pounds.
**REQUIREMENTS:
No education requirement. Field workers are responsible for safety related matters, including attending mandatory paid safety training and/or meetings. Workers may also be trained to use various equipment (i.e., tractors, forklift) if they wish. Work may be performed in outdoor or indoor agricultural locations involving exposure to the sun, soil, mud, dust, heat, cold, wind, rain and other natural elements. Work may be performed on uneven ground and requires constant movement. Workers must be able to stand, walk up and down hills, ramps or stairs, sit, stood, squat, kneel, crouch, bend (from the waist), push, pull, reach, lift and carry items weighing up to 100 pounds (highly unlikely, mostly up to 50 pounds). Workers must be able to withstand working in direct sunlight and conditions ranging from hot and humid weather, moderate rain, and cold while performing their required job duties. Workers should come prepared wearing appropriate clothing and footwear for the environmental and working conditions described. Work entails exposure to soil, plants, insects, and materials such as, but not limited to pesticides and fertilizers. Drug testing is conducted at employer's expense: pre-employment/post hire, upon reasonable suspicion, post-accident and at random or periodically.
Rate of Pay:
$18.74/hour
Provision of Housing: Employer agrees to provide or secure housing for the H-2A workers and those workers in corresponding employment who are not reasonably able to return to their residence at the end of the work day. That housing complies with the applicable local, State, and/or Federal standards and is sufficient to house the specified number of workers requested through the clearance system. The employer will provide the housing without charge to the worker. Any charges for rental housing will be paid directly by the employer to the owner or operator of the housing. If public accommodations or public housing are provided to workers, the employer agrees to pay all housing-related charges directly to the housing's management. The employer agrees that charges in the form of deposits for bedding or other similar incidentals related to housing (e.g., utilities) must not be levied upon workers. However, the employer may require workers to reimburse them for damage caused to housing by the individual worker(s) found to have been responsible for damage which is not the result of normal wear and tear related to habitation. When it is the prevailing practice in the area of intended employment and the occupation to provide family housing, the employer agrees to provide family housing at no cost to workers with families who request it. **