One of California’s largest food industry layoffs of 2026 became official in April when Del Monte Foods permanently closed its historic Modesto fruit processing plant, eliminating 765 jobs after a months-long bankruptcy and asset sale process.
The closure marked the end of operations at a facility that had processed peaches, pears and apricots for more than a century, sending shockwaves through the Central Valley’s agricultural economy. The plant also served as a major buyer for local fruit growers, raising concerns that the impact would extend well beyond the company’s workforce.
Bankruptcy set the closure in motion
The timeline began on July 1, 2025, when Del Monte Foods filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while seeking a buyer for its business. As the restructuring moved forward, the company announced in January 2026 that its Modesto cannery would close because no purchaser agreed to continue operating the facility.
Union officials said the shutdown would affect roughly 600 year-round employees and hundreds of seasonal workers who depended on the annual harvest…