Orchard Supervisor

About the Company:

Located in Gretna, Nebraska, Vala’s is a fall festival open to the public 45 to 55 days a year and a treasured fall tradition for many families in the surrounding communities. Vala’s is a large pick-your-own pumpkin patch, spanning 400 acres and including over 50 attractions, such as pick-your-own pumpkins and apples, and over 25 specialty food locations. Our U-Pick and Cider Orchards have over 40,000 apple trees and offer over 35 varieties of apples. Expanding our orchard and cider apple varieties will be a key component to growing Vala’s new cider business, Vala’s Orchard Cider Co. The cider company operates out of Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, crafting hard and sweet ciders in the Cider Mill at Vala’s. Our award-winning draft and bottled hard ciders are served to a growing number of guests that come out to Vala’s each fall. Other specialty crops at Vala’s includes peaches and wine grapes.

About the Position:

As an Orchard Supervisor you will oversee an orchard crew to care for and maintain the Vala’s Orchard under the direction of the Director of Agriculture and the owners. Duties include care and maintenance of over 40 acres of apple orchard, following the pruning and spraying schedule, planting additional apple trees, and harvesting apples to provide the best quality apples for our guests, food locations, and ciders. The candidate for this position will be detail-oriented, have great time management skills, will be able to work outdoors under a variety of weather conditions, and be able to lead a diverse group of co-workers and seasonal staff members. This job description includes essential job functions for the position; however, other duties may be assigned as required based on the needs of the organization. You will maintain the high standards of quality and safety throughout the farm with quality control and customer service.

• Oversee nutrition and health of an heirloom apple orchard, including unique cider apple varieties
• Orchard Operations, including but not limited to, pruning, spraying, weed control, and harvesting
• Implement and carry out best practices for a high density fruit production orchard
• Supervising full-time and seasonal orchard employees, to include training team members
• Scheduling and maintaining a harvesting cycle for delivery of apples to the Cider Mill
• 40-45 hours/week in the off-season, depending on planting, spray schedule, and workload
• Minimum of 72 hours/week during the fall operating season
• Assist in other duties, such as cider pressing, pumpkin planting, landscape assistance, grape production, peach tree maintenance and production, etc.

Responsibilities:

• Winter
  • Pruning apple trees
  • Work with team to press apples from the fall harvest
  • Assist with ordering apple trees for the spring, as needed
  • Develop and revise SOPs/documentation, as needed
  • Continuous learning, attending conferences and education opportunities
  • Working with the Director of Agriculture on projects and goals for the year
• Spring
  • Plant apple trees, as needed
  • Small construction projects/farm maintenance, as needed
  • Orchard maintenance
  • Planning arrival of pollinators and other orchard activities, as needed
  • Ensure irrigation is ready for summer
  • Thinning blossoms, as needed
  • Continue working with the Director of Agriculture on projects and goals for the year
• Summer
  • Spray application to apples, peaches, and grapes
  • Mow and maintain orchard
  • Irrigate crops, when needed
  • Assist and cross-train with planting pumpkins
  • Assist with other agricultural maintenance, as needed
  • Make sure all equipment and staff are ready for the fall apple harvest
  • Train new seasonal orchard crew members for harvest
  • Assist in training new seasonal tractor drivers
  • Work with crew to make sure U-Pick Stand and Orchard Wagon are cleaned and set up for the fall season
  • Assist with set up for orchard events
  • Continue working with the Director of Agriculture on projects and goals for the year
• Fall (Our “Season”)
  • Assist with U-Pick operations
  • Lead the orchard crew to maintain cleanliness of U-pick Orchard
  • Coordinate apple harvest with orchard crew, seasonal staff members, and volunteer pickers
  • Work with team to coordinate apple storage logistics and pressing schedule
  • Assist with cider pressing production, as needed
  • Assist with cider and apple delivery to retail and food locations, as needed
  • Assist with school tours, as needed
  • Assist with guest services in the orchard
  • Assist with orchard events

Requirements:

• Knowledge of orchard management and care
• Educational Requirement: Degree in Horticulture or Agriculture is a plus; or 2 years experience in tree fruit production
• Pest control knowledge and spray certification (or obtain within 6 months)
• Ability to drive a tractor
• Good physical condition, ability to lift 50lbs.
• Personable, friendly, guest service experience
• Enjoy working outside
• Proficiency in English and Spanish is a plus

Why Choose to Work at Vala’s?

• Family-owned and operated business with strong Core Values
• Team environment
• Core Staff Member Benefits: health, medical, dental, simple IRA, PTO, Amusement Park Perk
• Educational Opportunities
• Opportunity for bonuses
• Seasonal Perks: season passes, general admission tickets, Core Staff meals