Orchard Worker (Pruning and Thinning)

Crops do not wait, and a deciduous fruit orchard near Brackenfell needs extra hands this season. It's a practical job: you'll see what you got done before you go home.

This post is Brackenfell-based, with most of your time spent at a deciduous fruit orchard.

• Wash hands and use the field toilets for food safety
• Clean and store picking bags, ladders and secateurs
• Move irrigation pipes and check drippers for blockages
• Tie up tomato and pepper plants in tunnels
• Keep your picking card or tag count for daily pay
• Weed beds by hand or with a hoe
• Pick fruit or vegetables at the right ripeness and size, gently

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

• Living on or near the farm
• Tractor or quad bike experience

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

• Have your bank details ready. Most farms pay into a bank account and will not start you without it.
• Farms hire before the season starts, so apply four to six weeks early. Late arrivals often find the teams already full.