farmworkers and laborers

Crops: Tomatoes

Propagation & Plant Care

• Seedling propagation, transplanting, and labeling

• Soil/media mixing, sterilization, and tray setup

• Grafting and budding for specialty varieties

• Monitoring germination rates and adjusting conditions

• Potting and repotting plants as they grow

Irrigation & Nutrient Management

• Installing, calibrating, and repairing drip irrigation systems • Mixing, measuring, and delivering water-soluble fertilizers

• Flushing systems and cleaning water lines

• Monitoring reservoir levels and topping off nutrient tanks

• Conducting EC/pH tests and adjusting solution concentrations

Climate & Environmental Control

• Operating and troubleshooting greenhouse climate systems (vents, fans, heaters)

• Installing, repairing, and replacing shade cloths and poly films • Monitoring humidity and temperature sensors (including remote systems)

• Executing seasonal cleaning and maintenance of environmental controls

Pest, Disease & Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

• Scouting for pests, diseases, and abiotic stress symptoms

• Recording and reporting findings in pest-management logs

• Applying biological controls (releasing beneficial insects) • Cleaning and sanitizing benches, tools, and work areas to prevent disease spread

Plant Training & Canopy Management

• Pruning, de-suckering, and removing lower leaves

• Trellising, stringing, and hand-tying vines to support structures

• Adjusting plant density for optimal airflow and light penetration

Harvest & Post-Harvest Handling

• Hand-harvesting ripe tomatoes with proper techniques to minimize damage • Conducting quality inspections (size, color, firmness)

• Sorting and grading fruit into crates, clamshells, or boxes

• Labeling packages and preparing shipping manifests

• Operating conveyor belts and setting up pre-cooling stations

Packaging & Fulfillment

• Packaging produce into retail-ready containers (clamshells, trays, bins)

• Applying and verifying labels, lot codes, and barcodes • Sealing, shrink-wrapping, bundling, and strapping packages

• Palletizing and stretch-wrapping pallets for transport

• Inspecting packaged goods for quality, weight, and label accuracy

• Managing packaging material inventory and restocking supplies

Equipment Operation & Maintenance

• Operating and maintaining pallet jacks, forklifts, and skid-steers (certified operators only) • Cleaning, sharpening, and lubricating pruners, shears, and hand tools

• Performing routine checks on HVAC, pumps, and environmental controllers

• Assisting technicians with major repairs or system upgrades

Structural & Facility Support

• Assembling, disassembling, and repairing greenhouse frames, gutters, and trusses

• Patching and replacing poly film and shade panels

• Conducting minor electrical or plumbing fixes (under supervision) • Maintaining walkways, aisles, and exterior grounds (mowing, weeding)

• Loading and unloading supply deliveries and outbound shipments

• Organizing storage rooms, labeling inventory, and rotating stock

Data Entry & Record-Keeping

• Logging daily harvest weights, yields, and worker productivity

• Updating pest-management, nutrient, and irrigation records

• Assisting management with crop-planning spreadsheets or software entry Tech & Innovation Assistance

• Installing and troubleshooting remote-monitoring sensors or automated controls

• Assisting with drone-based crop scouting or imaging setups

• Supporting trials of new growing methods (e.g., hydroponics, aeroponics)