Fruit Picker CV Example
Create a CV that showcases your seasonal harvesting experience, physical stamina, and ability to work efficiently in agricultural settings.
Recommended template: Compact
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Emphasise your physical fitness and ability to work long hours outdoors in all weather.
- Mention any experience with different types of crops or harvesting methods.
- Highlight your reliability and punctuality, which are critical for seasonal roles.
- Include your willingness to travel or relocate for seasonal work opportunities.
Ready to build your CV?
Start with the Compact template and customise it for your manufacturing & factory role.
How to Write Your Fruit Picker CV
A fruit picker CV should emphasise physical fitness, reliability, and your ability to work productively in outdoor agricultural environments. Seasonal harvesting work is physically demanding and target-driven, so employers want to see that you can sustain high output levels while maintaining quality standards. Whether you are experienced or applying for your first picking role, focus on demonstrating the practical qualities that make you a dependable seasonal worker.
CV Structure
Start with a brief profile stating your harvesting experience, crops picked, and key strengths such as target performance and reliability. Follow with work experience listing each seasonal role with the farm, crop type, and dates. Include a skills section and any relevant certifications. Keep the CV to one page, as seasonal agricultural employers prefer concise applications.
CV Format
Use the simplest possible template — clarity and brevity matter more than design for fruit picking applications. Ensure your contact details, availability, and location are prominently displayed. Use bullet points for responsibilities and keep all descriptions short and specific.
CV Profile Examples
Experienced Fruit Picker
Hardworking and physically fit fruit picker with four seasons of harvesting experience across strawberry, raspberry, and apple operations in Kent and Herefordshire. Consistently exceeds daily picking targets by 20% while maintaining strict quality sorting standards. Known for excellent attendance, punctuality, and a positive attitude throughout long outdoor working days in all weather conditions.
Seasonal Agricultural Worker
Reliable seasonal worker with three years of experience in soft fruit and vegetable harvesting on commercial farms in East Anglia. Skilled in picking, grading, and packing produce to supermarket specifications. Experienced in working as part of large seasonal teams and adapting quickly to new crops, picking methods, and farm procedures.
First-Time Fruit Picker
Enthusiastic and physically capable individual seeking seasonal fruit picking work to gain agricultural experience. Demonstrates strong manual dexterity and attention to detail developed through craft-based hobbies and part-time retail work. Comfortable working outdoors in variable weather and available for the full duration of the picking season including early starts and weekend work.
State the number of seasons you have worked, the crops you have picked, and your best picking rate or target performance. Mention your availability for the full season including start and end dates. Include your physical fitness and willingness to work long hours in all weather.
Key Skills for Your Fruit Picker CV
Harvesting Techniques
Picking fruit and vegetables by hand using appropriate techniques to maximise yield and prevent damage to produce and plants.
Physical Stamina
Sustaining high levels of physical effort throughout long outdoor working days, often in bending, kneeling, or reaching positions.
Quality Sorting
Identifying and selecting produce that meets size, colour, and condition specifications while rejecting substandard items.
Team Collaboration
Working effectively alongside seasonal colleagues to maintain picking pace and coordinate row coverage across the field.
Time Management
Organising work to meet daily picking targets within allocated shift hours and break periods.
Manual Dexterity
Handling delicate fruit carefully to avoid bruising or damage during picking, sorting, and packing.
Outdoor Work
Working comfortably and productively in outdoor environments across all weather conditions and temperatures.
Attention to Detail
Applying consistent quality checks to every item picked, ensuring only produce meeting the required standard is packed.
Work Experience Examples
For each seasonal role, state the farm name, location, crop type, and season dates. Describe your daily duties and quantify your picking performance against targets. Include any additional responsibilities such as packing, grading, or training new starters. Mention whether you were invited to return for subsequent seasons, as this demonstrates reliability.
Fruit Picker / Harvester
Berry Gardens — Marden Farm, Kent
Harvested strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries during the summer season in polytunnels and open field rows on a 200-acre soft fruit farm.
Responsibilities
- Picked ripe fruit by hand following quality criteria for size, colour, and firmness, sorting rejects into separate containers.
- Met daily picking targets of 30 to 40 kg per hour, working an eight-to-ten-hour shift depending on crop availability.
- Packed harvested fruit into punnets and trays to supermarket specification, applying labels and stacking on pallets for cold storage.
- Maintained clean and tidy picking areas, reporting any signs of plant disease or pest damage to the field supervisor.
- Followed health and safety guidelines for outdoor work including sun protection, hydration, and manual handling practices.
Achievements
- Consistently exceeded the daily picking target by an average of 25%, earning a productivity bonus in three consecutive weeks.
- Selected by the field supervisor to train twelve new pickers at the start of the season, demonstrating techniques and quality standards.
- Completed the full twelve-week season with zero absences, earning a reliability bonus and invitation to return the following year.
General Farm Labourer
Fenland Produce — Cambridgeshire
Performed seasonal harvesting and packing duties on a mixed vegetable farm growing lettuce, celery, and brassicas for wholesale distribution.
Responsibilities
- Harvested lettuce and celery by hand in open fields, using a cutting knife and loading produce into field bins.
- Sorted and graded vegetables on a mobile packing rig, removing damaged or undersized items before wrapping.
- Loaded packed crates onto trailers for transport to the packhouse, stacking securely to prevent damage in transit.
- Cleaned and maintained harvesting equipment at the end of each shift.
Achievements
- Maintained a quality rejection rate below 2% throughout the eight-week harvest period.
- Received positive feedback from the packhouse manager for consistently well-graded and neatly packed produce.
Education & Qualifications
Keep education very brief — list your highest qualification only. For fruit picking roles, practical experience and reliability matter far more than academic credentials. Any food hygiene, first aid, or manual handling certificates can be mentioned in a short certifications section.
Manual Handling Certificate
Training in safe lifting techniques relevant to carrying crates, boxes, and produce in agricultural settings.
Level 2 Food Hygiene
Food safety qualification demonstrating understanding of hygiene principles when handling produce for human consumption.
First Aid Certificate
Basic first aid qualification enabling response to injuries in remote outdoor working environments.
CSCS Labourer Card
Construction Skills Certification Scheme card, useful if combining seasonal picking with construction labouring between seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a fruit picker CV with no experience?
Should I include picking rates on my CV?
How important is reliability for fruit picking work?
Should I mention willingness to relocate on my CV?
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