Workers harvested for Arcata positions

An Arcata flower company's unusual search for workers has plucked about 15 new employees from the Mid-Valley area, and about 15 more have agreed to relocate.

"They have hired people from Colusa County and Sutter County. We will continue to recruit from Colusa County and surrounding counties until our goal of 100 is met," said Kathy Craigo, owner of a local public relations firm who is coordinating the employee search for The Sun Valley Group.

The company is largest wholesaler of fresh cut flowers in the nation.

The firm will be interviewing 23 more people who the signed up at the Sutter County One Stop Partnership Job Fair on Thursday.

The jobs are year-round employment.

Craigo said most of the recruits who have been hired are single men, but a couple also have been hired and a single mother is in the process of relocating, Craigo sad.

Getting people to make the move has been one of the trickier elements of the search — in large part because of the financial burden it creates, especially for families.

The Sun Valley Group reached out to Colusa County, as well as Sutter County, and eventually Glenn County because of the high unemployment rates.

Most of the applicants are without work, and therefore the resources to pay for a move.

Craigo said the firm is trying to help out, the One Stop offices also have made available some resources and a Humboldt County agency appears ready to join in as well.

On top of that, The Sun Valley Group has added $200 to each of the new employee's weekly paycheck to help offset the cost of temporary housing and moving, Craigo said.