Heavy Labor Harvesters
Employer: Tanimura & Antle Fresh Foods, Inc.
Location: Bard, CA
Workers needed: 725
Pay: $16.90/hour
Season: Nov 9, 2026 – Apr 3, 2027
Employer-provided housing; Transportation provided/reimbursed
The job
The following is a job description for heavy labor harvesters of Artisan Lettuce, Artisan Romaine, Romaine, Iceberg Lettuce, Mix Lettuce (e.g., Red Leaf, Green Leaf, Boston, Red Boston, Red Romaine, Little Gem), Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Endive, Escarole, Cilantro and Parsley.
A member of the heavy labor harvest crew must be able to perform all the responsibilities and general job specifications outlined below:
The employee must work as a member of a heavy labor harvest crew performing the following tasks in the harvesting of produce under the direction of a foreperson or supervisor. Employees shall work under close supervision of a crew leader and receive specific instructions on required tasks and results expected. Employees perform routine tasks that require a limited exercise of judgment to eventually build harvesting skills and efficiencies. Specifically, an employee:
• Harvests produce by walking in assigned furrows behind or in front of a harvesting machine platform or harvesting cart, selecting size and quality of the produce to be harvested as specified by the supervisor; Bends and grasps selected produce and cuts it from its roots and or stalks using a harvesting knife; Trims the product according to specifications of supervisor; Discards produce that does not meet specified quality standards; and inserts trimmed produce meeting quality specifications into specified packaging or containers and/or places the freshly harvested produce on the table for taping/clipping by the clipper and packing by packer in the field.
• Must not place produce on the table which does not meet the specifications set forth by the supervisor for the crop being harvested, nor leave un-harvested produce which meets such specifications.
• Tapes/Clips/Packs product for artisan lettuce, romaine, mix lettuce, iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and cilantro; seals or clips the plastic wrap and or handles the raw cut product and places it into a packing container for shipment in the field.
Packers will secure empty containers from designated racks, insert whatever lining might be required, proceed to fill the container with product as directed by a supervisor, and place the container on a conveyor belt or on the furrow, as required to be sealed and ready for palletizing, loading, and shipment to the cooler.
• Can work as a Button Operator on any of the harvest machines; Responsible for establishing the speed of the harvest machine at the direction of the Foreperson, lifting or lowering the wings of the harvester, as required, and operating the control panel that allows the Button Operator to perform the above functions and in addition control the carousel speed, water supply and a kill switch to inactivate the harvest machine in an emergency.
The Button Operator may also be used as a safety monitor to assist the Machine Operator to ensure safety when the machines are turning in the fields to begin a new pass and may assist the Machine Operator in opening and closing machines.
• Moves cartons weighing from 32-66 pounds, as required.
• Cleans-up fields, which may consist of picking up trash, discarding cartons, and any other weed or debris, etc., which will be removed from the field just before, during and after harvest. The worker will not use a short handled hoe and any weeding is in compliance with California law.
• Stands on harvest machine platform, closes cartons, takes packed cartons off conveyor belt and seals the finished carton with tape or special locking lids. Moves sealed cartons (approximately 32-66 pounds) to the side for loading on pallets.
• Does NOT touch conveyors or chains.
Housing: Employer-provided (including mobile or range)
Meals: All Company-provided housing facilities located within the city of Yuma, Arizona and Imperial, California include paid utilities and full kitchens. Cooking and eating utensils shall be provided at no cost to occupants of Company-provided housing with kitchens. Employees shall purchase food at their own expense and prepare their own meals.
The Company shall provide employees in Company-provided housing with free and voluntary transportation to purchase groceries and/or shall ensure that employees have access to transportation to purchase groceries at least once a week at designated times.
Kitchen and eating facilities, in housing that contains kitchens, shall be shared with other
employees occupying the Company-provided housing facilities. Common eating areas will be shared only with employees occupying the housing in that facility.
No kitchen facilities or meals are provided to employees not occupying Company-provided housing.
Transport: The following provisions pertaining to provision or reimbursement for inbound and return transportation and subsistence apply only to persons recruited from outside the normal commuting distance.
Experience wanted: 0 months
General Specifications:
Employee must stand, sit, crouch, bend, reach, lift and carry items weighing up to 66 pounds in the course of performing required activities. Employees must listen to, understand, and follow instructions of Company row bosses, forepersons, supervisors and managers.
Employees are expected to assist in maintaining work areas and Company property in a neat and clean condition by not littering or in any deliberate way defacing Company property.
Rest and meal periods must be taken in the assigned area(s) for food safety reasons unless an off-site rest or meal period is elected by the employee.
Work is performed in open fields and may involve exposure to mud, dust, wind, heat, cold, and other natural elements. Temperatures can range from 30 degrees Fahrenheit to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the period of employment. Employees should come prepared with appropriate clean clothing and footwear for the environmental and working conditions described.
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