Duda Farm Fresh Foods is seeking a motivated Entry-Level Research Technician to join our dynamic Research and Development team in Salinas, CA. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a sophisticated and large-scale celery breeding program, while also providing technical support to both the celery and radish breeding initiatives. This position is responsible for assisting in all technical aspects of the breeding programs, including, but not limited to, assisting with the filling of trial seed packets, sowing seed in the greenhouses and cages, planting selections from the breeding programs, performing hand pollinations for the radish breeding program, monitoring the greenhouse and cages in the greenhouse yard and Island for any plant health issues and communicating any issues to a supervisor, harvesting seed from selections and research cages, cleaning research seed, conducting germination tests, and any other day to day activities warranted by the breeding programs. This position reports to Assistant Manager, Seed Operations and is located in Salinas, California.
Essential job responsibilities:
- Monitoring the greenhouse and cages in the greenhouse yard and Island for any plant health issues and communicating any issues to a supervisor.
- Harvesting and cleaning seed from selections and research cages.
- Conducting germination tests and accurately recording the results.
- Sowing seed in the greenhouses and cages, planting selections from the breeding programs, and performing hand pollinations for the radish breeding program.
- Assist with the packaging of trial seed.
- Evaluate seed crops to ensure purity and trueness to variety with a priority on hybrids but inclusive of OP's (especially the male parents). Work with the team to ensure protocols are maintained and/or improve purity and seed quality.
- Other Duties as assigned.
- High School diploma required
- Agriculture or demonstrated interest in agriculture preferred
- Valid CA driver's license
- 1+ year of greenhouse or seed company working experience preferred
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel preferred
- Working environment will include office, warehouse, cold room, laboratory and field.
- Bilingual preferred but not required.
- Works well on own and in a team environment.
- Must be willing to work outside of normal business hours (8:00AM-5:00PM) and weekends when necessary.
Duda Farm Fresh Foods provides a fair and equal employment opportunity for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. We expect and require the cooperation of all employees in maintaining a discrimination and harassment-free work environment. We offer an excellent benefit package as part of our total compensation including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401K, flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement program, paid time off and much more.
Due to the high volume of applications received, only those candidates who are selected for interviews will be contacted.
Top Skills
What We Do
A. Duda & Sons, Inc. (DUDA) is a privately owned, diversified land company headquartered in Oviedo, Florida, engaged in a variety of agricultural and real estate operations. Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, continues the company’s legacy as a quality grower, shipper and marketer of fresh produce with operations in Florida, California, Arizona, Georgia and Michigan. Duda Ranches oversees the company’s diversified agricultural operations which include sod, sugarcane, citrus and cattle. The Viera Company manages the development of DUDA’s non-agricultural land. The master planned new town of Viera, Florida, is its major community development. Viera Realty and Viera Builders provide vertical integration of the company’s real estate operations. Duran Golf Club in the community of Viera offers a championship golf course and golf learning center. The company’s commercial property division manages a portfolio of commercial entities across the country, and the corporation's land asset management division actively seeks to enhance the value of existing land holdings and ag-oriented properties and facilities.
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