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Crop Picker: Key Skills, Qualifications and Career Path

Career Overview
Interview Questions

What is a Crop Picker?

As a crop picker, you would be responsible for harvesting various crops such as fruits, vegetables, and grains from fields in the agricultural sector. This hands-on job role contributes to providing food for consumption both locally and globally.

How do I become a Crop Picker?

As a crop picker, you would be responsible for harvesting various crops such as fruits, vegetables, and grains from fields in the agricultural sector. This hands-on job role contributes to providing food for consumption both locally and globally.

What would you like to know?

What does it take to become an Crop Picker?

Skills, education, personality, career progression

Job demand for an Crop Picker

Job ads, popular location, season to apply



Skills

  • Physical fitness and stamina for long hours of standing, bending, and lifting
  • Attention to detail and ability to identify ripe crops
  • Knowledge of crop harvesting techniques and equipment operation
  • Ability to work in a team and follow instructions
  • Time management skills to meet production targets
  • Health and safety awareness to prevent accidents and injuries
  • Flexibility to work in different weather conditions and crop seasons
  • Communication skills to report any issues or concerns to supervisors
  • Basic numeracy and literacy skills for record-keeping and labeling
  • Willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies and farming practices

Qualifications & Education

  • No formal academic qualifications required
  • Prior practical farming experience typically needed
  • On-the-job training provided
  • Vocational qualifications available in agriculture, including NVQs/SVQs at Levels 1 to 4
  • Apprenticeships available in some areas

Career Path

Crop Picker
Farm Worker
Agricultural Technician
Agricultural Manager
Agricultural Consultant
Agricultural Economist
Agricultural Policy Analyst
Agricultural Research Scientist
Food Scientist
Food Safety Inspector
Quality Assurance Manager
Farm Manager
Farm Owner/Operator
Horticulturist
Landscape Designer/Architect
Garden Center Manager
Greenhouse Worker/Nursery Assistant
Plant Breeder/Geneticist

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a crop picker?

A crop picker is a farmworker who manually plants, cultivates, and harvests crops such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, and field crops using hand tools like shovels, trowels, hoes, and pruning hooks.

What is the job description of a picker?

The job description of a crop picker is to gather crops from fields or greenhouses.

What is the job of a vegetable picker?

The job of a vegetable picker is to assess and pick produce, checking for ripeness and discarding any pieces that are over-ripened, or that show signs of rotting or disease. They may pick produce by hand or operate specialised harvesting machines.

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