--- title: 'Field Technician – True Potato Seed Production at Ohalo' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/field-technician-true-potato-seed-production-ohalo-watsonville-m0pbwqchnncx' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-07' --- # Field Technician – True Potato Seed Production at Ohalo - **Company:** Ohalo - **Location:** Watsonville, CA - **Posted:** 2026-07-22 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ohalogenetics/jobs/4717753005 ## Job description Location: Watsonville, CA Department: Seed Production / R&D Employment Type: Full-Time ## About the Role We are seeking a detail-oriented Field Technician to support True Potato Seed (TPS) production, with a strong focus on hand-pollination, emasculation, berry development, and seed extraction. Unlike vegetative (tuber) seed potato systems, TPS production relies on controlled sexual crosses between parent clones to produce botanical seed from berries. This role requires precision, patience, and comfort with delicate flower-level work in both field and greenhouse/screenhouse settings. ## Key Responsibilities Pollination & Crossing (Primary Focus) - Execute seed production planting in appropriate TPS production location across the US planting sites - Collect detailed data and maintain production records fully updated and report information as it happens. - Follow the pollen collection and seed production SOPs to ensure high quality outcomes. - Collect pollen from designated male parent plants at the correct flowering stage, ensuring viability (fresh collection, proper storage/temperature control) - Perform hand-pollination by applying pollen to female flowers according to prescribed crossing designs - Tag and label each pollinated flower/truss immediately with cross ID, parent line, and date to maintain traceability through berry set and harvest - Monitor flowering synchrony between male and female parent plants and flag timing mismatches to breeders/supervisors - Track pollination success rates, fruit (berry) set, and flower drop, recording data in field books or digital data collection tools - Monitor berry development and maturity (color change, softening) to determine correct harvest timing - Hand-harvest mature berries by cross/truss, keeping strict identity preservation and avoiding cross-contamination between crosses - Assist with berry processing: crushing/macerating berries, fermenting pulp, and washing to extract true seed - Dry, clean, and package extracted TPS seed lots according to protocol, ensuring accurate labeling for storage and germination testing - Support seed viability and germination testing procedures as needed General Field & Greenhouse Support - Assist with planting, transplanting, and maintenance of parent clone plots (field, greenhouse, or screenhouse) - Conduct regular field/greenhouse inspections to monitor plant health, flowering stage, and pest/disease pressure - Rogue off-type or diseased plants to protect the genetic integrity of parent lines - Support isolation requirements between crossing blocks to prevent unwanted pollen contamination - Maintain irrigation, staking, and general crop upkeep for parent clone plots - Operate small field/greenhouse equipment as needed (sprayers, irrigation systems, hand tools) - Maintain meticulous, organized records in compliance with company and regulatory traceability standards - Help coordinate seasonal labor during peak flowering, pollination, and berry harvest periods - Follow all safety protocols, including proper PPE use when handling crop protection products, seed processing and field crop tasks. ## Qualifications Required: - High school diploma or equivalent; a bachelor degree held with agricultural /plant science / seed production background preferred. - 3+ years of experience in agriculture, horticulture, plant breeding, seed production, or related fieldwork (internship experience considered) - Strong attention to detail and steady hands for fine, flower-level work (emasculation, hand-pollination) - Ability to follow precise, protocol-driven procedures and maintain accurate identity-preserved records - Comfort working in greenhouse, screenhouse, and/or open field environments - Ability to work flexible hours, as flower receptivity and pollen viability are time-sensitive (often early morning) - Ability to stand, bend, and work at bench or plant height for extended periods - Ability to lift up to 30–50 lbs - Valid driver's license with a clean driving record - Ability to travel 25% to different TPS production sites, some time up a week or more at times. Preferred: - Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Horticulture, Agronomy, Plant Breeding, Botany, or related field - Prior experience with potato production, TPS/hybrid seed crossing, or other hand-pollinated crop systems - Familiarity with breeding nursery protocols, cross/pedigree tracking, or germplasm databases - Experience with pollination, seed extraction/fermentation processes and seed cleaning equipment - Experience with greenhouse pest/disease scouting and IPM practices Physical Requirements - Ability to perform fine, repetitive hand movements (emasculation, pollen application, tagging) for extended periods - Ability to work at bench height and plant height in greenhouse or screenhouse settings, as well as bending/kneeling in open field plots - Comfortable working in warm, humid greenhouse conditions as well as variable outdoor weather - Ability to walk plot/greenhouse rows repeatedly throughout the day - Willingness to work early morning shifts during active flowering/pollination windows Below is the pay range for this position that we reasonably expect to pay. Individual compensation is based on various factors including experience, education, skillset, and other relevant qualifications. This range is for the Watsonville, CA location and may be adjusted to the labor market in other geographic areas. Anticipated compensation: $27/hr About Ohalo: Ohalo™ aims to accelerate evolution to unlock nature's potential. Founded in 2019, Ohalo develops novel breeding systems and improved plant varieties that help farmers grow more food with fewer natural resources, increasing the yield, resiliency, and genetic diversity of crops to sustainably feed our population. Ohalo's breakthrough technology, Boosted Breeding™, will usher in a new era of improved productivity to radically transform global agriculture. For more information, visit [www.ohalo.com](https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4172870-1&h=3148035140&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ohalo.com%2F&a=www.ohalo.com). Notes: If you previously applied for a job at Ohalo Genetics, we encourage you to restate your interest in the position by submitting your application. No visa sponsorship is available for this position at this time. This organization participates in E-Verify. Posters linked [here.](https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf) No recruiters, please. ## About Ohalo ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Ohalo develops novel plant breeding systems, primarily its Boosted Breeding™ technology, to dramatically increase crop yields, resilience, and genetic diversity while reducing resource use for global agriculture. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series B) - **Headquarters**: South San Francisco, California, United States - **Founded**: 2019 - **Founders**: David Friedberg (CEO), Jud Ward (Chief Technology Officer) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Agricultural Biotechnology, Plant Breeding, AgTech - **Target customers**: B2B — global seed companies, commercial growers, and agricultural supply chain partners (e.g., strawberry, potato, almond, corn, and berry producers). - **Mission or purpose statement**: "Accelerating evolution to unlock nature's potential" — aiming to sustainably feed a growing population by shrinking the environmental footprint of agriculture through faster, more efficient plant breeding. ## Products & Services - **Boosted Breeding™**: A proprietary breeding platform that suppresses meiotic recombination, allowing offspring to inherit the complete genome from both parents (2x + 2x = 4x™). This creates "Boosted" plants that contain all beneficial traits from each parent, accelerating genetic gain and delivering predictable heterosis without multi-year selection cycles. - **Agile Breeding™**: A service that applies the Boosted Breeding platform across multiple crops to rapidly develop improved varieties. - **True Seed™**: A plant-breeding service delivering uniform, disease-free seedlings directly to growers — ready to sow, right out of the packet. Applied to crops like strawberries and potatoes. - **FruitionOne™**: The world's first self-fertile Nonpareil almond variety, eliminating the need for traditional bee pollination and cross-variety planting. - **Value-Added Traits**: Custom-developed traits (e.g., improved sustainability, better taste, longer shelf life, disease resistance) integrated into existing varieties for supply chain improvements. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed. - **Key Metric**: Total funding of approximately $100M (USD 99,999,969) across multiple rounds: - Seed (2019): Not disclosed - Early-stage venture (2021): $3.7M - Venture round (2024-01-25): $40.0M (2 investors) - Venture round (2024-05-01): $60.0M - Series B (2025-01-01): 1 investor - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Incubated by The Production Board (venture firm founded by David Friedberg). Partners include University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., Florida Strawberry Growers Association, and the Ohalo Strawberry Consortium. - **Growth Signals**: - Headcount grew 40% YoY to 85 employees (with 17 active job postings as of mid-2025). - Recognized on the "50 by 2050" list by Congruent Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank for climate tech innovation. - Launched FruitionOne™ (self-fertile almond) and the Ohalo Strawberry Consortium in 2025. - Expanding into Brazil and United Arab Emirates. - CEO David Friedberg has appeared on the All-In Podcast with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, signaling high-level policy engagement. ## Competitive Advantages - **Proprietary technology moat**: Boosted Breeding™ is a breakthrough approach that fundamentally changes plant reproduction — enabling entire genome inheritance from both parents. This is a patentable, hard-to-replicate scientific platform applicable to nearly every crop. - **Speed to market**: Traditional breeding can take decades; Ohalo's method can deliver improved varieties in a fraction of the time, with predictable outcomes. - **Broad crop applicability**: The platform works across potatoes, corn, berries, almonds, and more — not limited to a single crop. - **Strong investor & partner network**: Backed by The Production Board and partnered with major agricultural research institutions and grower consortia. - **Sustainability angle**: Higher yields with fewer inputs (water, land, pesticides) aligns with global climate and food security trends. ## Strategic Focus - **Commercial expansion**: Scaling the Ohalo Strawberry Consortium and potato programs, with plans to enter corn, berries, and other row crops. - **Partnership development**: Collaborating with seed companies, grower groups, and research institutions to license Boosted Breeding™ and distribute True Seed™. - **R&D pipeline**: Developing new self-fertile and disease-resistant varieties (e.g., FruitionOne™ almonds) and integrating value-added traits. - **Global footprint**: Building operations in Brazil and UAE to address international agricultural markets. - **Talent acquisition**: Actively hiring across engineering, plant breeding, commercial sales, and operations — with 17 open roles as of mid-2025. ## Why Work Here - **Mission-driven work**: Directly contribute to solving global food security and sustainability challenges through cutting-edge science. - **Innovative culture**: Described as "Farmers First," with a bias toward action, iteration, and finding truth — a fast-paced, science-first environment. - **Talent & team**: Employees come from top institutions (UC Davis, Iowa State, North Carolina State) and companies (Driscoll's, Zymergen, Inari). The team includes 29 researchers (26% of workforce) and 20 technical staff (18%). - **Growth trajectory**: 40% YoY headcount growth and $100M in funding signal a well-resourced, scaling company with career advancement opportunities. - **Diverse roles**: Openings range from Senior Full Stack Engineer and Quantitative Geneticist to Technical Sales Representatives and Greenhouse Technicians — appealing to both technical and commercial talent. - **Location & flexibility**: Headquarters in South San Francisco, CA, with remote roles available for some positions (e.g., Technical Sales Representatives across multiple US regions). Presence in Brazil and UAE offers global exposure. - **Perks**: Not explicitly listed, but as a well-funded private company, competitive compensation and equity are likely. The company emphasizes "improving the lives of farmers" and a collaborative, truth-seeking culture. ## Sources 1. [ohalo.com](https://www.ohalo.com/) 2. [ohalo.com/about](https://www.ohalo.com/about) 3. [Greenhouse Careers](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ohalogenetics) 4. [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohalo_Genetics) 5. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ohalo-genetics) ## Other roles at Ohalo - [Product Manager - AI-Native Business Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/product-manager-ai-native-business-systems-ohalo-south-san-francisco-zyfvp2sjy3dv) — South San Francisco, CA - [Greenhouse Maintenance Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/greenhouse-maintenance-technician-ohalo-watsonville-5as3swhxtpyj) — Watsonville, CA - [Global Crop Product Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/global-crop-product-manager-ohalo-south-san-francisco-6byvykwzefnx) — South San Francisco, CA - [Senior Greenhouse Facilities & Maintenance Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-greenhouse-facilities-maintenance-manager-ohalo-watsonville-e5wetq8vy76w) — Watsonville, CA - [Executive Assistant to the President & Chief Operating Officer](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-assistant-to-the-president-chief-operating-officer-ohalo-south-san-qbkhy1hs25g4) — South San Francisco, CA - [Business Development Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/business-development-lead-ohalo-south-san-francisco-n1bc9tccc4ye) — South San Francisco, CA - [Biotech Program Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/biotech-program-manager-ohalo-south-san-francisco-kkmf971cb6wc) — South San Francisco, CA - [Greenhouse Technician](https://feeny.ai/job/greenhouse-technician-ohalo-watsonville-85xh750e2xbm) — Watsonville, CA