California peach growers are set to destroy roughly 420,000 clingstone peach trees after the collapse of a decades-long partnership with Del Monte Foods left farmers without buyers for tens of thousands of tons of fruit.<\/p>\n
The move comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved up to $9 million in federal relief funding to help California farmers remove about 3,000 acres of peach orchards ahead of the 2026 harvest season, according to a release from Adam Schiff and California lawmakers.<\/p>\n
The emergency aid comes after the closure of Del Monte processing facilities in two California towns, Modesto and Hughson, a fallout following the food giant\u2019s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last year.<\/p>\n
Here’s what to know about the removal of clingstone peach trees.<\/p>\n
Why California peach farmers are removing trees <\/h2>\n
Central California growers were thrown into crisis after Del Monte permanently shuttered its canneries earlier this year, canceling many longtime grower contracts and leaving farmers with no major processing outlet for their clingstone peaches.<\/p>\n
According to reporting from MSN and the Sacramento Bee, many farmers had maintained 20-year agreements with Del Monte to grow peaches specifically for canning operations. The abrupt closures reportedly put growers on track for an estimated $550 million revenue loss.<\/p>\n
Lawmakers said the USDA funding will allow growers to pull trees that no longer have a viable market while helping them transition to different crops.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the lawmakers requested, USDA\u2019s assistance to farmers will include up to $9 million for the removal of up to 420,000 clingstone peach trees,\u201d Sen. Adam Schiff\u2019s, D-California, office said in a statement.<\/p>\n
USDA analysis found removing approximately 50,000 tons of peaches from production could help growers avoid roughly $30 million in projected losses.<\/p>\n In his release, Schiff said, \u201cFollowing our urging to the Trump administration to deliver relief to peach farmers, I am pleased that USDA is unlocking this federal funding.”<\/p>\n Rep. Mike Thompson, D-California, said the scale of the disruption created a crisis many family farms could not absorb on their own.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen a processing facility closes and 55,000 acres of fruit suddenly have nowhere to go, that\u2019s not something a family farm can just absorb,\u201d Thompson said.<\/p>\n Rep. David Valadao, D-California, said the Modesto facility had served as a critical processing hub for generations of Central Valley farmers.<\/p>\n \u201cFor generations, Central Valley family farms have relied on Del Monte\u2019s Modesto facility to process their peaches, and its sudden closure left growers with thousands of pounds of fruit and no clear path forward,\u201d Valadao said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The bipartisan push for aid included nearly 40 members of Congress, including Alex Padilla, D-California, and Nancy Pelosi, D-California.<\/p>\n Del Monte Foods filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July as the 138-year-old canned food company sought to restructure its debts and pursue a sale of its assets.<\/p>\n The company, known for its signature green canned fruit and vegetable labels, described the bankruptcy filing as a \u201cstrategic move\u201d aimed at stabilizing operations while continuing to serve customers.<\/p>\n President and CEO Greg Longstreet said in a company statement that the bankruptcy process was intended to \u201caccelerate our turnaround and create a stronger and enduring Del Monte Foods.\u201d<\/p>\n The removal of 420,000 clingstone peach trees is not expected to cause an immediate disappearance of canned peach products from grocery store shelves; however, it highlights the financial strain facing California\u2019s canned fruit industry following Del Monte\u2019s bankruptcy and cannery closures.<\/p>\n Clingstone peaches grown in California are commonly used in canned fruit products, including those previously processed through Del Monte\u2019s Modesto facility. Lawmakers said the USDA-backed tree removal program is intended to help farmers manage losses after many lost contracts tied to Del Monte\u2019s processing operations.<\/p>\n Del Monte said it plans to continue operating during the Chapter 11 process as it works to restructure the business and pursue a sale of its remaining assets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>
What lawmakers are saying <\/h2>\n
What happened to Del Monte Foods? <\/h2>\n
Could shoppers notice an impact? <\/h2>\n