Farm Utility Worker
Employer: Costa Farms Operations, LLC
Location: Miami, FL
Workers needed: 228
Pay: $15.00/hour
Season: Oct 12, 2026 – Jul 15, 2027
Experience: 1 months
Employer-provided housing; Transportation provided/reimbursed
The job
The Farm Utility Worker performs planting, growing, maintenance, handling and packing activities involving plant material. Under close supervision, workers perform routine manual tasks in producing and handling a variety of specialty, foliage, and tropical plants, including both container-grown and field-grown nursery stock. The role requires consistent attention to safety, quality, and productivity and a positive, team-oriented attitude. This position involves manual labor and repetitive physical activity performed outdoors and in greenhouse and shade-house environments.
Primary duties include, but are not limited to, the following tasks, performed in any combination and as directed by the supervisor or team leader:
• Weed, prune, or trim plants as instructed, using pruning shears, scissors, or mechanical trimming equipment.
• Work on potting or production lines using soil mixers, flat fillers, conveyors, and potting machines.
• Transplant, pot, and label seedlings, cuttings, plugs, liners, shrubs, and other plant material, including digging, cutting, or dividing plant material as directed.
• Pull, load, unload, transport, consolidate, spread, space, and arrange plants, plugs, liners, containers, and related materials in fields, greenhouses, production barns, loading areas, and other designated locations, as directed by work orders or supervisors.
• Accurately and quickly plant young plant material (plugs or liners) while working on a potting-line conveyor or in the field.
• Identify, select, and pull ready-to-sell containerized plants according to supervisor instructions and quality standards.
• Identify and report plant quality issues, including removing debris, dirt, or poor-quality plants or material before shipping.
• Assemble, disassemble, organize, repair, and secure trailers, racks, carts, and shipping trays used for plant loading, movement, storage, or shipment.
• Operate general farm equipment as may be required to move or maintain product or maintain the greenhouse or growing areas.
• Monitor soil moisture and environmental conditions and perform irrigation tasks according to supervisor instructions and established work plans.
• Assist with or perform the mixing, measuring, and application of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides for sprays or drenches, as directed, and only after completing required training and using required PPE.
• Perform basic upkeep and minor repairs to farm equipment, irrigation components, benches, ground cover, and growing structures, as directed.
• Complete assigned work orders and accurately record quantities, progress, and completion status.
• Perform general housekeeping duties such as sweeping, mopping, and picking up trash or debris around the farm. Repair or replace benches and/or growing structures.
• Open or close shade houses and greenhouses according to schedule.
• Install and/or remove winter plastic and ground cover.
• The employer may assign workers who possess all required licenses, medical certifications, and employer authorizations to operate employer vehicles to transport workers and may offer them additional work hours.
Housing: Employer-provided (including mobile or range)
Meals: Employer-provided housing includes free and convenient kitchen facilities with appropriate equipment, appliances, cooking accessories, and dishwashing facilities for meal preparation. Workers residing in employer-provided housing will be provided free transportation once per week to/from closest town or city for personal errands (e.g., groceries, banking services). Dining, kitchen/cooking facilities and other common areas are shared by all workers. In the event that kitchen facilities become unavailable during the contract period, employer will provide three daily meals in accordance with 20 CFR 655.122(g). In such circumstances, employer will deduct the cost of such meals up to the maximum allowable amount published in the Federal Register, or as otherwise approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Transport: Employer will permit workers to select any means of transportation they choose and reimburse workers at no less than the most economical and reasonable common carrier (e.g., van, bus, plane) transportation charges for the distances involved for both inbound and outbound transportation.
Experience wanted: 1 months
One month of greenhouse or nursery experience required. Workers are not permitted to be under the influence of intoxicants of any kind during working hours. Employer reserves the right to conduct employer-paid upon suspicion/post-accident drug testing in accordance with state law. Any employee who declines to take or fails a drug test will be immediately terminated.
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