General Laborers - Tree Farm Operations

We have the following full-time year round employment opportunities within our Nursery Farm Operations division.

JOB SUMMARIES
POTTING LABORER 

Workers will pot trees, straighten and align holding system to trees, consolidate, tree stand up and cull trees. Plant trees from the original container to a larger container; setup tree-holding systems. Lift and straighten various size container trees using mechanized equipment. During the potting process, straighten trees, set into the holding system, fertilize and water tree. Loading and unloading of trees. Installation and replacement of irrigation lines and emitters. 

• Maintain the high quality of standards during the potting process.
• Plant 30 gallon trees or larger from original container to a larger size.
• Setup tree-holding systems such as ropes, trellis, rebar and pipes for new trees.
• Lift and straighten various size container trees from 30 gallon to 200 gallon using mechanized equipment.
• Trees need to be centered and root ball at the correct level.
• Water trees as they are being potted.
• Install and repair sections for planting.
• Fertilize according to procedures.
• Installation and replacement of irrigation lines and emitters for new plantings or consolidation of plant material.
• Check and maintain equipment.
• Fill water coolers with ice and fresh water every morning.
• Load cull trees onto trailers and move to the dumping area.
• Clean up area after finishing a shift or consolidation.
• Job duties involve standing, walking, bending, crouching, squatting, stooping, or kneel throughout the day. 
• Lifting and or moving products and objects up to 50 lbs.
• Must be comfortable working outdoors in all types of climates.

CONTAINER TREE MAINTENANCE LABORER
Perform manual and/or machine tasks associated with the cultivation and maintenance of container horticulture trees (30+ gallons). Maintenance of tree including pruning, staking, lifting and straightening of trees and maintenance of holding systems. Application of fertilizers and use of earth moving equipment, hand tools and gas powered equipment. Maintaining work area clear of any litter and keeping tools and supplies in good working order.  

• Operate Equipment according to safety guidelines. (ex. Tractors, high reach, ect.)
• Maintain holding systems (ex. Ropes, trellis, rebar, and pipes)
• Utilize various hand tools and small engine gas powered equipment.
• Work on ladders.
• Lift and straighten large container trees.
• Maintain constant shapes between containers sizes when pruning.
• Sanitize equipment between trees when pruning.
• Stake trees with bamboo using proper protocols.
• Use tie tape for staking bamboo to trunk and tying leaders of trees.
• Apply top-dress and sub-dress dibble fertilizer to containers.
• Maintain clean sections free of weeds, leaf litter, suckers and trash.
• Keep all equipment, tools and supplies clean and in good working order.
• Maintain trees to meet Florida #1 standards or better according to Florida grades and standards.

SHIPPING LABORER
Gathers products selected for shipment by identifying the proper tagging. Pulls product from field sections, loads materials onto trucks/trailers, stages products. Verifying that all materials are properly secured before they leave the loading area. When not working in shipping employee will assist in any task that the other production departments within the organization may need assistance with.

• Assist in pulling product from field selections and loading them onto trucks/trailers to fulfill customer orders.
• Gather nursery products selected for shipment by identity tagged products.
• Ensure that all trees and materials are properly secured before letting the materials leave the loading area.
• Keep a safe distance from tractors/trailers and semi’s when in motion.
• Job requires continuous lifting and carrying of objects up to 50 and 75 lbs.
• Wear the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Prior experience working in a nursery or Tree Farm, in cultivation/harvesting and/or installation of commercial plant material, handling both manual and machine tasks associated with commodity production and harvest activities preferred. 
• Bilingual in English/Spanish a plus. 

Physical Demands 

• Work can be repetitive and physically demanding, requiring frequent bending, lifting, and shoveling. 
• Regularly required to stand; walk; bend; crouch; squat; stoop or kneel. 
• Job requires continuous lifting and carrying of objects up to 50 and 75 lbs.

Job Site Conditions 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, outside weather (heat or cold), and moving mechanical equipment.

REQUIRED LICENSES / HOURS OF WORK 

• Valid Driver's License with clean MVR a plus
• Work week is Monday – Friday and every other Saturday, start and end times vary depending on departmental and organizational needs. May be required to work additional hours during peak times or as needed.