Orchard Laborer

Responsibilities

• Hand pruning based on fruit variety using manual and mechanized pruning tools and equipment.
• Prune trees, most of which is done from ladders, with lower branches being pruned from the ground.
• Identify and remove stubs, broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood, and shoot-suckers.
• Thinning: Properly thin apple, peach, and nectarine trees between May and July, removing excess and defective fruit from within a cluster of other fruits.
• Pick peaches, nectarines, and apples by hand, ensuring removal of all fruit meeting picking requirements from trees.
• Use/handle ladders up to 20 ft. in length and weighing up to 60 lbs. to pick fruit.
• Inspect fruit for quality and discard severely damaged or decaying fruit.
• Conform to specific instructions given for each fruit variety in any given orchard.
• Inspect fruit randomly each day and note bruised or damaged fruit in a post-inspection quality report.

Requirements

• Must have 3 months verifiable experience.
• Physically able to prune and thin trees from ladders up to 14 ft. in length and weighing up to 25 to 40 lbs., and handle ladders up to 20 ft. in length and weighing up to 60 lbs.
• Able to differentiate between colors and fruit varieties accurately.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of pruning and thinning techniques for apples, peaches, and nectarines.
• Ability to work independently and follow instructions from supervisors.
• Physical stamina and strength to perform tasks such as climbing ladders and handling heavy fruit containers.

Skills

• Pruning skills
• Thinning skills
• Fruit identification
• Handling ladders

Benefits

• Varies based on crop and market conditions.

Pay

• Piece rate pay may be enacted based on variety and crop/market conditions.
• Piece rates starting at $0.75 per bushel and may go up based on variety and conditions.

Schedule

• From 3/1/2026 to 11/30/2026.