Job Information
Whitman Brook Orchard Agricultural Equipment Operators in Queechee, Vermont
2 fulltime seasonal H-2A jobs available 4/14/2025 - 11/21/2025.
All applicants must be able, and willing and qualified, to perform the work described in this job description and must be available for the entire period of employment specified in Box 3 & 4 on Page 1. This work order is for qualified people to perform the duties of apple orchard and vegetable farm. Summer pruning, thinning, general orchard work and harvesting produce in an apple orchard, as well as field work, weeding, thinning, hoeing and other duties related to the planting, maintaining and harvesting diversified ground crops and weeding in multiple meadows, including pollinator meadow. Workers must have the knowledge and ability to prune, thin and train apple trees, cut out diseased shoots and limbs, install and maintain mouse guards around trunks, install and maintain graft protection, read variety maps to determine tree and plant location, be willing to work in varied weather conditions as low as 30 degrees and during harvest as high as 90 degrees with damp mornings. Workers must be able to handle and climb a 16 foot ladder repetitively while carrying an apple picking bucket which is harnessed over the workers shoulders. Workers may wash and prepare produce for storage or retail sales. Workers will press apples into cider. Workers may be asked to operate trucks or other multi-purpose vehicles on public roads, between orchard blocks to remove apple bins from outlying orchards during harvest time. Workers will be asked to drive tractor, pick up and (or) chip brush from orchard floor, collect all materials for compost, repair broken bins, plant, water and cable trees, pick rocks to prepare soil for planting, and other farm related tasks as the need arises. Workers must be able to identify certain apple pests, perform daily counts of the pest traps and record findings. Workers may 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 farmer's fields); and/or transport workers to the grocery store, bank, or laundry facilities on an as-needed basis. Those that are requested to drive will be required to possess a valid drivers license; no worker will be rejected for not having a driver's license. When harvesting apples, productivity must be at least 60 1-1/8 bushel 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 reach production standards. Work requires long periods of standing, bending and kneeling. Workers must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Employer will furnish workers without cost all tools and equipment required to perform duties assigned. Workers must be able to operate a chainsaw, brush (clearing) saw and string trimmer. Workers may be required to work 10.5 hours shifts between the hours of 7:00am - 7:00pm from Monday through Saturday. Workers will be given at least 30 minutes for lunch. The workers will return to work after their 30 minutes are up. The beginning and ending times will vary depending on the orchard conditions. Workers must be able to take direction in simple English.
Requirements:
- 1 month of experience.
- frequent bending, stooping, pushing, pulling
- extensive walking, sitting, repetitive movements
- Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
The full terms and conditions of the job (form ETA790a) should be reviewed and provided to qualified applicants from this website: seasonaljobs.dol.gov.
