Tomato Picking, Packing, and Crop Work Jobs at Costa Tomatoes in Guyra, NSW
Tomato Picking, Packing, and Crop Work Jobs at Costa Tomatoes in Guyra, NSW
Location: Guyra, NSW
Hourly Rate: $29.76 per hour (Employer Est.)
Industry: Agriculture / Horticulture
Job Type: Full-time, Casual, On-call Positions Available
Company: Costa Group
About Costa Tomatoes
Costa Tomatoes operates one of Australia’s largest and most advanced glasshouse facilities, providing fresh, premium-quality tomatoes year-round. With locations in Guyra, NSW, Costa is a leader in sustainable agriculture, utilizing state-of-the-art glasshouse technology. This commitment to innovation has placed Costa Tomatoes at the forefront of the fruit and vegetable industry. As part of the Costa Group, one of Australia’s largest agricultural companies, you will be joining a team of dedicated professionals working to deliver top-quality produce to supermarkets and food industries across Australia and globally.
Why Work with Costa Tomatoes?
Costa Tomatoes is offering exciting entry-level job opportunities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Whether you are looking to start your career in agriculture or advance to a leadership role, these positions are an ideal entry point. With full-time positions available and potential for career progression, you can move up the ranks into supervisory, maintenance, agronomy, quality control, or administrative roles. Costa’s focus on sustainability, innovation, and workplace safety ensures that you’ll be part of an environmentally responsible and forward-thinking company.
Available Roles: Crop Work, Picking, and Packing
At Costa Tomatoes, there are multiple job roles to choose from, including crop work, tomato picking, and tomato packing. Each role involves different responsibilities, and all require physical stamina, a positive attitude, and a commitment to quality production.
1. Crop Work Roles
As part of the crop work team, you will be responsible for the ongoing care and maintenance of the tomato plants. This includes:
Leafing: Removing excess leaves to ensure the plants remain healthy and produce high-quality tomatoes.
Pollination: Assisting in the natural pollination process to enhance fruit production.
Twisting and Lowering: Ensuring plants are correctly positioned and supported for optimal growth.
This role requires working in large glasshouses with high humidity and temperatures reaching up to 30°C. Workers will be on their feet for up to 8 hours per shift and perform repetitive tasks involving low muscle load movements such as hand, wrist, arm, and shoulder actions. Workers may also be required to perform tasks at heights depending on the specific crop work activity.
Key Skills Required:
Ability to work in a warm and humid environment.
Physically fit and able to stand or walk for long periods.
Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently or as part of a team.
2. Tomato Picking Roles
Tomato picking is a vital role in the Costa operation, requiring careful handling of the tomatoes as they are harvested. Responsibilities include:
Picking Ripe Tomatoes: Carefully harvesting ripe tomatoes from the plants.
Handling Fresh Produce: Ensuring tomatoes are picked without damage to maintain the quality of the product.
Like crop work, tomato picking occurs in large glasshouses with high humidity and temperatures up to 30°C. The physical requirements are similar, including standing and walking for up to 9.5 hours per shift. While the movements are repetitive and low muscle load, the role requires a great deal of focus and accuracy to ensure high-quality, undamaged fruit.
This position also involves working at heights occasionally, depending on the location of the plants.
Key Skills Required:
Ability to work in high humidity and warm conditions.
Strong physical stamina and ability to handle repetitive tasks.
Attention to detail in picking the best-quality tomatoes.
3. Tomato Packing Roles
The tomato packing team ensures that the fresh tomatoes harvested are carefully packaged and ready for distribution. Responsibilities include:
Packing Tomatoes: Sorting and packaging the harvested tomatoes for delivery to supermarkets and food distributors.
Quality Control: Ensuring only the best-quality tomatoes are packed for shipment.
Packing roles take place in an indoor cooling facility where temperatures may drop to around 12°C to ensure the tomatoes remain fresh during transport. Like the other roles, packing involves standing for 9.5 hours per shift, performing repetitive tasks that require precise hand, wrist, and arm movements.
Key Skills Required:
Ability to work in a cool environment.
Strong attention to detail to ensure tomatoes are packed carefully and correctly.
Commitment to food safety and personal hygiene.
Work Hours and Shift Details
Shifts: Most roles are rostered for 38 hours per week, typically Monday to Friday. Shifts usually start at 6:30 AM or 7:00 AM, with end times dependent on production levels. During peak seasons (October through March), you may be asked to work reasonable additional hours.
On-call Casual Positions: On-call roles are available, offering flexibility to those who may not be able to commit to full-time hours.
It’s important to note that the work will continue year-round, meaning there are long-term opportunities for employment. During winter, operations may slow slightly, but there are still opportunities for ongoing work.
Accommodation and Location Details
For those considering these roles, it’s crucial to note that Guyra, a small rural town, offers limited accommodation options. There is also no public transport or taxi services to transport workers to the job sites, which are located 4-10 km from town. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to secure accommodation in the local area before applying. Armidale, a larger regional center, is about 40 km away from Guyra and is the nearest urban center with additional amenities.
Key Requirements for Candidates
To succeed in these roles, candidates should meet the following requirements:
Reliable Transport: Ensure you have access to reliable transport to commute to the work site, as there are no public transport options.
Physical Fitness: The roles require long hours of standing and walking, so physical fitness is essential.
Ability to Work in Warm Environments: Particularly for crop and picking roles, you must be comfortable working in high temperatures and humid conditions.
Basic English: A basic understanding of written and spoken English is required.
Commitment to Health and Safety: A strong focus on Occupational Health and Safety, food safety, and personal hygiene is a must.
Valid Work Entitlements: Ensure you have valid work rights for Australia.
Salary and Benefits
Pay Rate: The starting hourly rate for crop, pick, pack, and nursery roles is $29.76 per hour (Casual Level 1). Pay progression is available, with higher rates for those with relevant skills or experience.
Long-Term Employment: There are opportunities for long-term, full-time employment for those looking to build a career in the agriculture industry.
Visa Eligibility: This job location and role meet the requirements for individuals applying for a Working Holiday Visa.
About Costa Group
Costa Group is Australia’s leading grower, packer, and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables. With a diverse range of products including berries, mushrooms, avocados, bananas, grapes, and citrus fruits, Costa operates more than 60 farms across Australia. The company places a strong emphasis on sustainable agriculture and the responsible use of natural resources, ensuring that their products are healthy, safe, and environmentally friendly.
How to Apply
Interested candidates can apply through the Costa recruitment portal. For further inquiries, you can contact the team at tomato.recruitment@costagroup.com.au.
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