Del Monte Foods has confirmed it will close one of its long-running fruit canning facilities in California, ending operations at a plant that has served the region for decades. The move is part of a broader restructuring after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and began a court-supervised sale process.
End of an Era for Central Valley Cannery
Del Monte Foods has announced the closure of its longstanding fruit canning facility in Modesto, Central California. A closing date has not been announced, with officials saying it will begin an “orderly wind-down of operations.”
Del Monte Foods, a household name in canned fruit and vegetables, confirmed that it will wind down operations at the Modesto fruit cannery, which processes peaches, apricots, pears, and other products. The facility’s shutdown will directly impact approximately 600 year-round employees and up to 1,200 seasonal workers who are typically employed during the harvest season.
The closure marks a significant blow to the Central Valley’s food processing sector. For decades, the Modesto plant served as a key processing hub for growers across the region, particularly for crops that require labor-intensive harvesting.
Reduced demand for canned fruits and vegetables
Consumers are gravitating toward fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, organic and minimally processed products, and snackable items such as single-serve fruit cups, yogurt, and cold-pressed juices. The rise of meal delivery services and prepackaged salad kits has further reduced demand for canned fruit and vegetables, which many shoppers now see as outdated or less appealing.
Bankruptcy restructuring
Del Monte’s decision follows its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in July 2025, when the company began a court-supervised restructuring and asset sale process…