Farm General Worker (Vegetable Fields)

Harvest time on a vegetable farm near Pinetown means early mornings, full crates and paid overtime. If you learn fast and don't mind being shown things twice, you'll settle in within a few weeks.

This post is Pinetown-based, with most of your time spent at a vegetable farm.

• Prune and thin fruit trees and vines to the farm's method
• Keep your picking card or tag count for daily pay
• Pick fruit or vegetables at the right ripeness and size, gently
• Fill crates or bins and carry them to the collection point
• Wash hands and use the field toilets for food safety
• Clean and store picking bags, ladders and secateurs
• Weed beds by hand or with a hoe

• Willing to start at sunrise
• Able to work outdoors in heat, cold and rain
• Careful with fruit, since bruised fruit is rejected
• Valid ID or work permit

• Previous harvest or picking experience
• Pruning experience on vines or fruit trees

• Piece-rate bonus on top of daily wage
• Farm transport from nearby towns
• Seasonal accommodation on some farms
• Chance of a permanent post after good seasons

• Farms hire before the season starts, so apply four to six weeks early. Late arrivals often find the teams already full.
• If you have picked before, say which crop and how many seasons. Farms rehire experienced pickers first.