California farmers who grow fruit for canned products suffered a major setback this month as Del Monte Foods announced plans to close its only remaining cannery in the state.
The cannery’s closure will reportedly affect roughly 600 employees and 1,200 seasonal workers in Modesto. The closure ends Del Monte’s more than 100-year history as a processor of California-grown fruits and vegetables, potentially leaving scores of farmers without a buyer for their produce. “It’s difficult,” said Ranjit Davit, who grows cling peaches in Sutter County and chairs the California Canning Peach Association’s board of directors. “Growers are very upset about the situation.” In recent years, Del Monte contracted about 35% of California’s cling peaches. Farmers who planted fruit orchards under long-term contracts with Del Monte said they were weighing their options and bracing for steep losses.
