Tomato Picking, Packing, and Crop Work Roles in Australia

Job Description

Full job description

Our tomatoes are grown year round in one of Australia’s largest and most advanced glasshouse facilities, at two locations near Guyra, NSW Australia

Our state-of-the-art glasshouse technology puts Costa Tomatoes at the forefront of innovation in ecologically sustainable practices and sets us apart in the fruit and vegetable industry.

About the roles

We are looking for enthusiastic people who are interested in working in a variety of roles available in our tomato glasshouse and packing operations located near Guyra NSW.

These entry level positions are a great starting point for a variety of opportunities in our team. Learn the basics before progressing to team leader or supervisory positions, or branching out into other departments or specialists functions such as maintenance, plant health, quality control, despatch, agronomy, supply and administration.

There are multiple roles available:

Crop Work

These roles involve:

• Caring for our tomato plants (leafing, pollinating, twisting, lowering)
• Working in large Glasshouses with high humidity and warm temperatures (up to 30 degrees)
• Standing or walking for 8 hours per shift, with breaks
• Repetitive low muscle load movement of hands, wrists, arms, elbows, shoulder, neck
• Working at heights (depending on task)
• Shifts are mostly rostered Monday to Friday

Picking

These roles involve:

• Picking our tomatoes
• Working in large Glasshouses with high humidity and warm temperatures (up to 30 degrees)
• Standing or walking for 9.5 hours per shift, with breaks
• Repetitive low muscle load movement of hands, wrists, arms, elbows, shoulder, neck
• Working at heights (occasionally)
• Shifts are mostly rostered Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Packing

These roles involve:

• Packing our tomatoes
• Working in a large indoor packing facility which may be cooled to 12 degrees
• Standing for 9.5 hours per shift, with breaks
• Repetitive low muscle load movement of hands, wrists, arms, elbows, shoulder, neck
• Shifts are mostly rostered Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Important Information

Most glasshouse and packing roles are rostered for 38 hours week plus reasonable additional hours as required.

On-call casual positions are also available.

Hours will vary according to the department and role. Most shifts are rostered Monday – Friday, starting at 6.30 or 7.00am. Shift end times are variable depending on current production. We are busier from October through March and a little less busy during the winter, with operations continuing all through the year.

Long-term full time employment is available.

For people not already residing in the area. Please make sure to research the local area of Guyra (NSW 2365) as there are limited accommodation options in this small country town and no public transport or taxi service to get to the work areas East (4km) and North (10km) of the town. The closest Regional Centre is Armidale which is 40 km from Guyra.

We do not provide assistance with accommodation or transport. Preference is given to applicants with secure accommodation in the local area.

Winter temperatures can be much colder than many other parts of Australia.The work type and location meet the requirements for subsequent Working Holiday Visa applications.

Pay Rate

Current commencement pay rate for Crop, Pick, Pack, Nursery roles: $29.76 per hour (Casual Level 1). Pay progression is available and higher rates of pay are available for people with appropriate skills.

About you

Successful candidates must:

• Have access to reliable to and from the work site
• Be physically fit with the ability to stand and/or walk for extended periods of time
• Be able to work in a warm and humid environment (crop and picking roles)
• Have an understanding of basic English (written and spoken)
• Work cooperatively and respectfully in a multicultural workforce
• Have a strong focus and commitment to Occupational Health and Safety, Food Safety, Quality and Personal Hygiene
• Have valid work entitlements for Australia

About Costa

We’re Costa. Australia’s leading grower, packer and marketer of premium quality fresh fruit and vegetables.

On the land, in distribution centres, and out on the roads – Costa people work hard to bring the freshest produce to tables across Australia.

But joining our team is about more than just hard work. It’s about picking a meaningful, sustainable job that’s good for you, and for Australia.

Costa is committed to sustainable agriculture. Not only is it a key strategy for maximising our profitability, it’s also crucial to ensuring that our country’s natural resources are utilised in both an environmentally responsible and efficient manner. By taking this approach, Costa grows products which are healthy, safe and of the highest quality, while at the same time protecting and improving the natural environment.

With over 60 farms across Australia, our produce categories include:

• Berries (Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries)
• Mushrooms
• Tomatoes
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Grapes
• Citrus (Oranges, Lemons, Mandarins, Tangelos, Limes, Grapefruit)

Our produce is supplied to all the major Australian supermarket chains, as well as independent grocers and a range of food industry stakeholders. We also export to Asia, North America and Europe.

For further information don’t hesitate to get in touch with tomato.recruitment@costagroup.com.au