Several longstanding food and beverage production facilities in California have announced closures in early 2026, dealing a significant blow to local workforces and regional supply chains. The shutdowns will impact nearly 2,500 employees, leaving California workers reeling as once stable jobs crumble.
Del Monte Foods cannery to shut down after a century of operation
Del Monte Foods has confirmed that it will close its Modesto fruit cannery in early 2026, ending operations at one of the last remaining processing hubs for canned fruit in California’s Central Valley. The announcement comes as part of the company’s broader bankruptcy restructuring, which saw assets sold through a court-supervised process earlier this year.
The closure will affect an estimated 600 full-time employees, along with 1,200 seasonal workers who had been hired during peak harvest periods for processing peaches, apricots, and pears.
Local agricultural officials have warned that the loss of the cannery could ripple through the region’s farm economy, leaving growers without a nearby buyer for their crops and squeezing related service industries.
JBS Swift beef plant closes in Riverside
In Southern California, JBS Swift Beef Company has moved forward with plans to shutter its case-ready beef processing facility in Riverside. The plant’s closure took effect on February 2, 2026, as part of a corporate strategy to optimize operations across the company’s broader production network…