Farm Worker Wanted in Yakima, Washington, USA

A farm worker assists with the daily activities involved in crop production, orchard maintenance, harvesting, sorting, and general agricultural operations. Depending on the farm and season, responsibilities can include planting, thinning, pruning, harvesting fruit, maintaining irrigation systems, moving agricultural materials, operating basic equipment, and preparing crops for transportation.

Yakima is one of Washington's major agricultural areas, particularly known for apples, pears, cherries, and other tree-fruit crops. Current agricultural listings in the area include positions involving apple, pear, and cherry harvesting, orchard maintenance, thinning, pruning, and other farm activities. One active Yakima order from CRG Orchards requests 64 workers, while another active order from Kershaw Farm Labor Management requests 950 workers for different harvest periods.

For someone exploring opportunities in agriculture, a farm worker position can provide practical experience with crop production, orchard operations, harvesting, agricultural tools, irrigation, farm equipment, and post-harvest handling.

List of Farm Worker Vacancies

Farm positions can vary according to the crops being cultivated, the time of year, the size of the operation, and the responsibilities assigned by the farm supervisor.

Farm Worker

A farm worker assists with general agricultural activities throughout the growing and harvesting seasons.

Responsibilities can include cultivating fields, thinning plants, pruning trees, harvesting crops, moving agricultural materials, cleaning work areas, and assisting supervisors with daily farm activities.

Current Yakima listings include workers involved with apples, pears, and cherries.

This position can provide broad experience in agricultural operations.

Orchard Farm Worker

An orchard farm worker focuses on activities involving fruit trees.

Responsibilities can include pruning branches, thinning fruit, removing damaged crops, maintaining orchard rows, harvesting fruit, carrying picking containers, and assisting with irrigation.

Current Yakima agricultural positions specifically include tree-fruit orchard activities involving apples, pears, and cherries.

This role can develop specialized orchard skills.

Apple Farm Worker

An apple farm worker assists with the cultivation and harvesting of apple crops.

Responsibilities can include thinning apples, pruning trees, checking fruit maturity, hand-picking apples, placing fruit into bins, and removing damaged or unsuitable fruit.

A current Yakima listing requires workers to hand-harvest apples and pears according to established procedures and fruit-quality requirements.

This position can provide valuable experience in apple production.

Cherry Farm Worker

A cherry farm worker assists with cherry cultivation and harvesting.

Responsibilities can include thinning trees, harvesting mature cherries, using orchard ladders or platforms, transporting harvested fruit, and maintaining orchard areas.

Current Yakima agricultural orders include cherry harvesting among their seasonal activities.

This position can develop practical cherry-production skills.

Pear Farm Worker

A pear farm worker assists with maintaining pear trees and harvesting mature pears.

Responsibilities can include thinning, pruning, inspecting fruit, harvesting pears, carrying picking equipment, and placing harvested fruit into containers.

Current Yakima listings include pear harvesting alongside apple production.

This role can provide experience with pear cultivation and harvesting.

Farm Harvest Worker

A farm harvest worker specializes in collecting mature agricultural products.

Responsibilities can include identifying ripe fruit, hand-picking crops, carrying picking bags, transferring produce into bins, sorting products, and preparing harvests for transportation.

Current Yakima orders include apple, pear, and cherry harvesting activities.

This position can develop harvesting and produce-handling abilities.

Orchard Thinning Worker

An orchard thinning worker helps regulate the amount of fruit growing on trees.

Responsibilities can include removing excess fruit, blossoms, or unwanted growth and maintaining appropriate spacing between fruit.

Yakima agricultural positions include thinning activities for tree-fruit crops as part of orchard production.

This role can develop specialized knowledge of fruit-tree cultivation.

Orchard Pruning Worker

An orchard pruning worker helps maintain trees by removing selected branches and unwanted growth.

Responsibilities can include using pruning tools, removing branches, maintaining tree structure, and following instructions regarding crop production.

Current agricultural listings in Yakima include pruning among the duties performed during orchard operations.

This position can develop tree-maintenance skills.

Farm Field Worker

A field worker performs different agricultural tasks throughout crop-production areas.

Responsibilities can include walking crop rows, removing weeds, maintaining irrigation, moving materials, cleaning fields, assisting with harvesting, and supporting other farm activities.

This position can provide broad hands-on experience with agricultural operations.

Farm Equipment Worker

A farm equipment worker assists with machinery and equipment used during agricultural production.

Responsibilities can include moving equipment, assisting machinery operators, transporting agricultural products, checking equipment, and operating vehicles when appropriately licensed.

One active Yakima agricultural order specifically notes that workers with appropriate licenses may operate general-purpose vehicles to transport workers, equipment, and products.

This role can develop knowledge of agricultural equipment and logistics.

Agricultural Laborer

An agricultural laborer assists with various tasks assigned by the farm supervisor.

Responsibilities may include planting, cultivation, thinning, pruning, harvesting, loading, unloading, irrigation, field maintenance, and general farm activities.

The federal job classification used for current Yakima agricultural listings is Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse.

This position can provide varied experience across different areas of farming.

Requirements

1. Previous farm experience when required
2. Previous orchard experience when required
3. Basic knowledge of agricultural procedures
4. Ability to harvest apples
5. Ability to harvest pears
6. Ability to harvest cherries
7. Ability to identify mature crops
8. Ability to perform thinning activities
9. Ability to perform pruning activities
10. Ability to remove damaged fruit
11. Ability to use basic agricultural tools
12. Ability to use pruning tools
13. Ability to use orchard ladders when required
14. Ability to work from the ground
15. Ability to work from platforms when required
16. Ability to carry agricultural containers
17. Ability to place harvested fruit into bins
18. Ability to sort agricultural products
19. Ability to assist with irrigation
20. Ability to maintain orchard areas
21. Ability to remove weeds and debris
22. Ability to follow supervisor instructions
23. Ability to maintain agricultural equipment
24. Ability to work outdoors
25. Ability to work in changing weather conditions
26. Ability to work during hot temperatures
27. Physical stamina
28. Ability to walk for extended periods
29. Ability to stand for extended periods
30. Ability to bend and stoop repeatedly
31. Ability to lift and carry agricultural materials
32. Ability to perform repetitive tasks
33. Good attention to detail
34. Good observation skills
35. Good communication skills
36. Reliability
37. Punctuality
38. Ability to work independently
39. Ability to work as part of a farm crew
40. Ability to maintain productivity
41. Ability to follow agricultural safety procedures
42. Ability to identify damaged crops
43. Ability to report problems to supervisors
44. Ability to work early mornings
45. Ability to work during harvest seasons
46. Ability to work Saturdays when required
47. Ability to work flexible schedules
48. Ability to work overtime when required
49. Valid driver's license when required
50. Willingness to learn agricultural procedures

Benefits

1. Opportunity to gain agricultural experience
2. Development of crop-production skills
3. Experience with apples
4. Experience with pears
5. Experience with cherries
6. Development of harvesting techniques
7. Development of thinning skills
8. Development of pruning knowledge
9. Experience with orchard operations
10. Development of fruit-sorting skills
11. Experience with agricultural tools
12. Development of produce-handling abilities
13. Experience with irrigation systems
14. Development of field-maintenance skills
15. Exposure to agricultural equipment
16. Development of farm logistics knowledge
17. Improvement of physical work abilities
18. Development of teamwork skills
19. Improvement of communication abilities
20. Development of agricultural safety awareness
21. Improvement of attention to detail
22. Development of time-management skills
23. Experience working alongside experienced farm workers
24. Development of problem-solving abilities
25. Exposure to seasonal agricultural operations
26. Development of knowledge about tree-fruit production
27. Experience with different stages of crop production
28. Development of professional discipline
29. Foundation for future opportunities in agriculture

Advantages

1. Provides practical farm experience
2. Develops knowledge of agricultural operations
3. Strengthens apple-harvesting skills
4. Develops pear-harvesting experience
5. Provides exposure to cherry production
6. Develops thinning techniques
7. Strengthens pruning abilities
8. Improves orchard-maintenance skills
9. Develops fruit-selection knowledge
10. Provides experience with agricultural tools
11. Develops harvesting and packing skills
12. Improves produce-handling abilities
13. Provides exposure to irrigation systems
14. Develops knowledge of farm equipment
15. Strengthens physical work capabilities
16. Develops teamwork skills
17. Improves communication with supervisors
18. Strengthens attention to detail
19. Develops problem-solving abilities
20. Provides experience working outdoors
21. Improves adaptability to changing weather conditions
22. Develops agricultural safety awareness
23. Provides opportunities to learn from experienced farm workers
24. Strengthens knowledge of seasonal crop production
25. Develops post-harvest handling skills
26. Provides exposure to commercial orchard operations
27. Develops professional work discipline
28. Provides experience with multiple fruit crops
29. Builds a foundation for future opportunities as a farm worker, orchard worker, apple picker, cherry worker, pear worker, harvest worker, agricultural laborer, or farm supervisor