Orchard Worker (Pruning and Thinning)

You'll pick, prune and look after crops on a vegetable farm near Ermelo through the season. People who do well here are steady, honest and not scared to ask when something is unclear.

The work is in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, so you'll need a reliable way to get there every day. The first two weeks are spent shadowing someone experienced.

• Wash hands and use the field toilets for food safety
• Keep your picking card or tag count for daily pay
• Pick fruit or vegetables at the right ripeness and size, gently
• Prune and thin fruit trees and vines to the farm's method
• Move irrigation pipes and check drippers for blockages
• Fill crates or bins and carry them to the collection point

• Valid ID or work permit
• Careful with fruit, since bruised fruit is rejected
• Available for the full harvest season
• Physically fit for bending, lifting and climbing ladders

• Pruning experience on vines or fruit trees
• Previous harvest or picking experience
• Tractor or quad bike experience

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

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