Harvesting labourers

Overview

Harvesting labourers and related workers assist other farm workers to plant, harvest, sort and pack crops. They participate in soil preparation, irrigation and crop planting, spraying and thinning. They are employed on fruit, vegetable and specialty crop farms.

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Prepare and irrigate soil

  • Plant, fertilize, thin and harvest crops

  • Pick row and orchard crops

  • Sort, weigh and pack fruit and vegetables at the farm

  • Load, unload and transfer crates, supplies, farm produce and products for transport

  • Clean up racks, trays, and harvest bins and general clean-up of growing, producing and packing areas

  • Assist with general farm maintenance and maintenance of equipment and tools

  • May assist in preparing garden beds for planting

  • May write daily progress reports of inventory harvested.

Job titles

  • apple picker
  • berry picker
  • crop farm labourer - harvesting
  • cucumber picker
  • farm hand - harvesting
  • farm labourer - harvesting

Employment prospects

Source: BC Labour Market Outlook 2023 edition

Annual salary

Low

$34,934

Median

$34,934

High

$41,712

Job openings

Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.

British Columbia

175

expected job openings (5-year forecast)

Education and training

Employment requirements

  • There are no specific education or training requirements.

Additional information

  • Progression to other farm worker positions is possible with experience.

Certification requirements

  • No certification requirements

Post-secondary programs in B.C.

No post-secondary education required

No post-secondary education required. You can work in this career without post-secondary education. Some on the job training may be provided. With additional training or experience, you may be able to progress into higher level, supervisory or management positions.

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