This job suits people who are careful and patient, not someone looking for a relaxed pick-and-eat farm job. You’re working with research crops here, so attention to detail actually matters more than speed. If you enjoy hands-on farm work and don’t mind precision over casual harvesting, this role can genuinely teach you something new.
FNM’s experimental farm in El Rompido, near Cartaya in Huelva province, is hiring a Farm Laborer to support its agricultural research trials, mainly working with strawberries and raspberries.
Job Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Farm Laborer (Peón/a Agrícola) |
| Employer | FNM Experimental Farm |
| Location | El Rompido, Cartaya, Huelva, Spain |
| Hours | 39 hours per week, Monday to Saturday (shorter hours on Saturday) |
| Salary | As per the applicable collective agreement, plus a travel allowance |
What This Role Involves
- Setting up trial fields: greenhouses, pots, and irrigation systems
- Preparing growing substrates and different pot formats
- Transplanting and caring for young plants (seedlings)
- Harvesting strawberry and raspberry research crops
- Checking that irrigation systems are working properly
- Supporting the evaluation of different research projects
- Keeping work areas clean and organized
Requirements
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Experience | Agricultural experience, berry/red fruit experience highly valued |
| Attitude | Willingness to learn and actively take part in projects |
| Flexibility | Able to switch between different tasks depending on the day |
| Work Permit | Legal permission to work in Spain is required |
| Location | Living near Cartaya or the surrounding area |
| Transport | Own transport to reach the farm, a car is valued |
| Bonus | Pesticide applicator license (carnet de aplicador) is a plus, not required |
This Is a Research Farm, Not Just a Harvest Job
Unlike a standard harvest role, this position supports real crop trials. Tasks like checking irrigation and helping evaluate research projects mean you’ll likely work closely with agronomists or researchers, not just pick fruit. If you’re interested in how new growing methods or plant varieties are tested, this is worth highlighting in your application, especially if you have any background in agronomy, biology, or horticulture.
Why Berry Experience Is Specifically Valued
Strawberries and raspberries bruise and spoil easily, so they need careful, gentle handling. A worker who rushes through picking can damage a whole trial batch, which matters more here than on a regular commercial farm, since the fruit is often being measured and recorded for research purposes. If you’ve worked with berries before, mention it directly instead of listing general farm experience, since the listing calls this out as particularly valuable.
What the Phytosanitary License Means
The “carnet de aplicador de productos fitosanitarios” is an official Spanish certification for safely and legally applying pesticides and similar products. It’s not required for this role, just a plus. If you’re building a longer career in Spanish agriculture, it’s worth looking into, since many farms value or require it for more advanced positions, and having it already can set you apart from other applicants.
What Working on a Research Farm Can Teach You
A job like this offers something a standard harvest job usually doesn’t: exposure to how agricultural trials actually work, from setting up growing conditions to tracking results. Over time, workers who pay attention can pick up practical knowledge about irrigation systems, substrate mixes, and plant care that applies well beyond this specific farm. If you’re considering a longer-term path in agriculture, horticulture, or even agronomy study, this kind of hands-on research experience can be a genuine stepping stone, not just a short-term job.
Understanding the Schedule and Pay
The role runs 39 hours a week, Monday to Saturday, with a shorter day on Saturday. Pay follows the sector’s collective agreement, plus a travel allowance on top. It’s worth asking about this allowance specifically, since it can meaningfully affect your take-home pay depending on how far you live from the farm.
Location and Commuting
The listing asks for residence near Cartaya or the surrounding area and values having your own car. El Rompido is a coastal area in Huelva province, in southwestern Spain near the Portuguese border. If you’re not already local, factor in housing and daily transport before applying, since public transport options in smaller rural areas can be limited.
Preparing Your Application
Since this role blends farm labor with research support, your application should reflect both sides. Mention any hands-on agricultural experience first, then add anything related to attention to detail, following instructions precisely, or recording data accurately, even if it’s from a different field. Employers hiring for research-support roles often value carefulness and reliability as much as raw farm experience.
How to Apply
Please read this listing carefully before applying, and send your resume accordingly, so you don’t run into any problems later.