Orchard Farmer job description

About the job

We are looking for an orchard farmer to look after olive, citrus and other fruit trees, from watering, pruning and feeding to harvest, for a good crop and healthy trees.

Duties and responsibilities

• Prune trees in season to shape and renew them and improve their yield
• Water the trees and schedule irrigation by tree age and season
• Fertilize the trees and work out their nutrient needs with the agronomist
• Control pests and diseases such as the olive fruit fly and scale insects by safe spraying
• Plant new saplings and graft trees
• Harvest olives and fruit when ripe with as little damage to fruit and branches as possible
• Grade and pack the fruit and get the olives to the press on time
• Till between the rows and clear weeds

Working conditions

• Outdoor work in heat and cold
• Working on ladders and lifting fruit crates
• Peak workload at harvest, especially the olive harvest in autumn and winter

Requirements

• No formal qualification required
• 3 to 6 years of experience in orchard farming

The years of experience follow the level you choose when posting.

Skills

• Fruit tree care
• Tree pruning
• Grafting
• Drip irrigation
• Fertilization
• Pest control
• Olive and fruit harvesting
• Fruit grading and packing

Preferred

• Experience with mechanical or semi-mechanical olive harvesting
• A diploma in agriculture or horticulture