TRAVERSE CITY -- Twelve people who didn't have jobs now do.
More than 100 work hopefuls attended a Northern Michigan Agriculture Job Fair on Monday at the Park Place Dome, and one employer hired some of them on the spot.
And more jobs can be had, particularly in the summer cherry harvest, industry officials said.
"We're looking for all kinds of positions," said Tom Spencer, who handles human resources for Cherry Growers Inc., of Grawn. "The positions include forklift operators, general laborers and cherry inspectors who work the lines. We need people to help in sanitation. We need machine operators to operate the cherry-pitters."
Cherry Growers and Smeltzer Orchards of Frankfort need about 550 seasonal employees, and plenty of folks are looking for work, including Kingsley resident Joe Sladek.
"I worked at Dura in Mancelona for 13 years," Sladek said. "I've been unemployed since September of last year. It's tough out there. I've sent out over 1,000 resumes since the end of September, and have gotten maybe a half-dozen interviews."
Matt Garber, day crew supervisor for Smeltzer Orchards, said he saw applicants from Traverse City, Mesick, Fife Lake and Central Lake.
Lee Wood was among those who scoured the fair for a job. Wood, a dental hygienist from Traverse City, said she's attracted to farm life.
"There are professional people out of work that are willing to do work that is below the pay range that they have earned in the past," Wood said.
The job fair drew applicants with varying levels of experience.
"I've never had a job," said Michael Duke, of Rapid City. "I'm only 16. I could really use some work."
The job fair was organized in part to match young applicants with job possibilities, said Michigan Works' Deb Vogel. Many young people of high school and college age are finding it increasingly difficult to find work as the recession hammers all age brackets.
"There's less jobs for kids my age. All of the older people are looking for jobs because they've lost their jobs," said Rebecca Adams, a Northwestern Michigan College student from Suttons Bay.
Cherry industry officials stressed to applicants that cherry-packing is intense work, but can lead to full-time positions.
Sladek, whose wife owns an accounting business in Kingsley, and whose daughter will be in high school in the fall, doesn't want to leave Michigan for opportunity elsewhere, but said he has applied for out-of-state positions.
"If I pick up and leave, it's me picking up and leaving," Sladek said. "My family isn't coming with me. But, if that's what I have to do, that's what I have to do."
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