The holder of an EPAS certificate of this specialty:
Knowledge:
1. Identifies and describes the parts and essential organs of the fruit tree, the role they play for its growth and describes its development stages.
2. Sorts tree crops, distinguishes large groups of fruit trees and can describe the importance of different fruits for nutrition.
3. Describes the appropriate location for installing the orchard and the cultivation method in the major crop species: pome fruit (apple, pear, quince),
stone fruit (peach, apricot, plum, cherry, sour) nut-bearing trees (almond, pistachio, hazelnut, walnut), olives (table and olive oil producing trees), citrus (orange, mandarin, lemon), vineyard (table, wine, raisins).
4. Distinguishes different categories of pests, diseases and weeds of tree crops, describes the ways available to deal with them and recognizes the risks involved in the use of pesticides, while applying the basic principles for the organic production of agricultural products.
5. Identifies and describes agricultural machinery for soil preparation, crop treatments and mechanical harvest, and explains the role and functions of each of them, while also configuring them.
6. Identifies and describes the premises and facilities of arboriculture exploitation and the basic equipment of a fruit processing plant.
7. Lists the quality criteria of different fruits and describes the work on safety and quality management in production, harvesting and processing.
8. It sets out the reasons necessitating the processing of fruits, with particular reference to individual farm level.
9. Describes how tree crops are proliferated.
Skills:
1. Installs an orchard in an appropriate location.
2. Installs, nurtures, cares for and harvests the fruits of the main crop species: pome fruit (apple, pear, quince),
stone fruit (peach, apricot, plum, cherry, sour) nut-bearing trees (almond, pistachio, hazelnut, walnut), olives (table and olive oil producing trees), citrus (orange, mandarin, lemon), vineyard (table, wine, raisins).
3. Prunes by all methods by selecting the appropriate tools.
4. Applies the basic principles for the organic production of agricultural products.
5. Harvests and stores fruits and performs work for the safety and quality management of production, harvesting and processing of fruits.
6. Sets, maintains and uses the tractor with all accessories or towed agricultural machines in the field.
7. Applies ways to deal with pests, diseases and weeds of tree crops by taking appropriate protective measures.
8. Maintains the premises and facilities of arboriculture exploitation.
9. Applies the basic processes of manufacturing at individual farm level.
10. Multiplies plants by all methods.
11. Receives, sorts and records the tax documents in the books provided by tax law and fills in the necessary documents and forms.
Competences:
1. Collaborates with other technicians in the performance of his duties, understands how to apply their instructions and ensures the implementation timelines that have been set by his superiors.
2. It works independently by taking responsibility for completing his tasks.
3. Applies the best practices to protect the natural environment and ecosystems.
4. Develops basic communication skills.
5. Meets the basic rules of health and safety.