Irrigation Assistant (Crop Farm)

Harvest time on a berry tunnel farm near Khayelitsha means early mornings, full crates and paid overtime. If you turn up on time and finish what you start, you'll fit in quickly.

You'll be based at a berry tunnel farm in Khayelitsha. Living nearby, or on a taxi route to it, really helps. Shifts rotate, so you'll need to be flexible about days and nights.

• Weed beds by hand or with a hoe
• Clean and store picking bags, ladders and secateurs
• Wash hands and use the field toilets for food safety
• Prune and thin fruit trees and vines to the farm's method
• Move irrigation pipes and check drippers for blockages
• Follow the re-entry times after spraying, as the signs show

• Valid ID or work permit
• Physically fit for bending, lifting and climbing ladders
• Willing to start at sunrise
• Careful with fruit, since bruised fruit is rejected
• Able to work outdoors in heat, cold and rain
• Available for the full harvest season

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

• Piece-rate bonus on top of daily wage
• 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.