Orchard Worker (Pruning and Thinning)

Crops do not wait, and a berry tunnel farm near Kathu needs extra hands this season. You'll work with a small crew, so being easy to work with matters as much as skill.

This post is in Kathu (Northern Cape). Please only apply if you can travel there daily. You'll start with a short induction before working on your own.

• Wash hands and use the field toilets for food safety
• Follow the re-entry times after spraying, as the signs show
• Keep your picking card or tag count for daily pay
• Tie up tomato and pepper plants in tunnels
• Pick fruit or vegetables at the right ripeness and size, gently
• Weed beds by hand or with a hoe
• Fill crates or bins and carry them to the collection point

• Valid ID or work permit
• 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
• Follows farm hygiene and safety rules

• Living on or near the farm
• Pruning experience on vines or fruit trees
• Previous harvest or picking experience

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

• 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.