For generations, a massive Central Valley plant helped turn California’s harvest into products found in kitchens across the country. Now, that operation is quietly shutting down, leaving hundreds of workers without jobs and an agricultural community facing an uncertain future. The fallout could stretch far beyond the factory gates.
Del Monte cannery closure
One of California’s most recognizable food manufacturing sites is winding down operations, triggering widespread layoffs and leaving a Central Valley community bracing for economic fallout. Del Monte Foods has confirmed plans to close its longtime fruit cannery in Modesto, ending more than a century of production at the site.
The closure marks another blow to California’s shrinking food manufacturing sector, particularly in regions historically tied to agriculture and processing.
Timeline for layoffs
Del Monte filed for bankruptcy in July 2025, and auctioned off its assets to three different companies in January 2026.
As of the latest reports, Del Monte Foods has begun winding down operations at its Modesto fruit cannery, but a specific final shutdown date has not yet been publicly announced. Local officials and workers are still waiting for formal notices that would detail the exact timeline for ceasing production and layoffs.
Hundreds of jobs impacted
The shutdown affects roughly 600 full-time employees, along with an estimated 800 to 1,200 seasonal workers who are typically hired during peak canning months. Many of those seasonal jobs support local farm workers and families who rely on the cannery’s summer production cycle for steady income…