Job 3: Packing Apples

On to the next job! After doing another 2 days of caulies and only getting a total of 3-4 hrs of work a day I decided I would take my chances and try something else a bit more full time. Through a friends, friends, employer and then their friends, friends, neighbour and somehow in there was me getting drunk at the town pub lead to this new job.

Today I started at Sassafras Orchard where there is 400 acres of apple trees, a few acres of cherries, 100 arces of pears and 200 of onions. I worked in the packing shed where the apples come in by the bin which have all been hand picked by mainly backpackers during the summer months. They get dunked in water, washed with a solution, a layer of wax coats them, then heaters dry them. After this they role on the grater to be inspected for holes, bruises, scuffs, and rot. They are then brushed and stickers are put on. At this stage they are ready to be packed! The apples come down on a conveyor belt on trays. This is where the worker comes in, the apples are then organized on the trays where they are all looked over again for hole and such and placed in a neat formation, red sides showing. After they get put into boxes which get packed on crates, wrapped, labelled, and finally ready for pick up. I got a full 8 hr day and all 3 breaks. I plan to stay here for awhile! After all, my dad did use to call me 'apple bob' growing up because I loved them so much. My boss is the only person I know who can say his money literally grows on trees!