Michigan State University honors Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Appreciation Month this July by highlighting MSU alum and retired staff member Robert “Carlos” Fuentes, who recently published his book, “The Vacation: A Teenage Migrant Farmworker’s Experience Picking Cherries in Michigan.”
In the memoir, Fuentes, former intercultural initiatives coordinator at MSU, shares a deeply personal story of growing up in a migrant farmworker family, picking cherries, strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers and tomatoes.
“When you’ve got everything, the whipped cream, you add the maraschino cherry on top. It’s a rewarding thing,” he said, referencing the symbolic meaning of cherries throughout his life and the title of his book.
“I’m grateful for where my life has taken me.”
This article from the Leelanau Enterprise and Tribune, dated Thursday, July 23, 1953, discusses Aunt Martha picking cherries (above) and Grandpa with some members of his church holding services on the lawn of the Ted Esch Farm in Leland, Michigan (below). Courtesy of Fuentes.
The memoir chronicles his summers as a teenager working alongside his family in Michigan’s cherry orchards. Though his father framed the trips to Lake Leelanau as vacations, the reality included long hours of hard labor under the summer sun. An excerpt from the book captures this contrast:
“[My father] tells us on our vacation, we will camp in a tent, go to the beach, have picnics and barbecues, and enjoy the great outdoors. However, he also tells us we’ll spend all day picking cherries from eight to five, Monday through Friday, plus a few hours on Saturday morning.”
Fuentes’ story blends hardship with humor and reflection. While his brother saw no vacation in cherry picking, Fuentes recalls those times as formative and filled with good memories that would shape his future.
Joe and Sara Fuentes (Mom and Dad) are ready to pick cherries at the Ted Esch Farm, Leland, Michigan (circa early 1950s). Courtesy of Fuentes.
From cherry fields to campus impact
Fuentes went on to earn a master of arts degree in college and university administration from MSU, building a 22-year career in student services. He helped launch the International Engagement in Mexico, or IEM, program, and following military service in Iraq, returned to MSU to support international students and promote global learning.
“Seeing students grow was incredibly rewarding,” he said. From the early days of IEM, the seeds of growth were planted, and the program continues to thrive more than 20 years later.
From left to right: young Tito, Sandy, Bobby (author) and Junior at a beach on Lake Michigan near Leland, Michigan, 1960. Courtesy of Fuentes.
Preserving migrant stories
Determined to document migrant labor history and provide a Mexican American perspective, Fuentes self-published his 267-page book with support from MSU Libraries Publishing Services. Julie Taylor, a library assistant, helped guide him through the process, including submitting the book to the Library of Congress.
Fuentes’ love for cherries also shines throughout the book, as he recalls Montmorency sour cherries used in his mother’s pies and the crisp sweetness of Napoleon cherries — better known as Queen Anne or Royal Ann — which are preserved as maraschino cherries that top desserts and flavor colas.
His story is a reminder that the “cherry on top” isn’t just a garnish — it can be the foundation of memories rooted in family, service and pride.
To learn more about "The Vacation" and the history of migrant farmworkers, contact Carlos Fuentes or visit the website.
