California farmers to destroy 420,000 peach trees after Del Monte collapses

[highplainsdem]

Source: Independent

Central California peach farmers are preparing to destroy around 420,000 clingstone peach trees after Del Monte Foods shut down its canneries earlier this year.

Del Monte, the 139-year-old canned fruit and vegetable company, permanently closed its canneries in Modesto and Hughson in April following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last July.

The closures left hundreds of workers without jobs and devastated growers, many of whom lost 20-year contracts with Del Monte and had few alternative buyers for their crops. Farmers could face an estimated $550 million in lost revenue, according to the Sacramento Bee.

In response, Senator Adam Schiff and Reps. Mike Thompson and David Valadao announced last week that affected growers could receive up to $9 million in federal aid to remove up to 420,000 clingstone peach trees before the upcoming harvest season, which typically runs from late May through September.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/california-peach-trees-destroyed-del-monte-closure-b2972246.html

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Better yet, some of our useless billionaires could step in to save those trees and farmers and farm workers, and get that food to schools and food pantries.

[Diamond_Dog]

1. I had better not see imported canned peaches on store shelves.

[turbinetree]

2. I grew up in the Central Valley.............this is really sad I really like DeL Monte fruits and vegetables..........

[pfitz59]

3. Replacing them with other crops

will take years, and a lot of money.

[pfitz59]

4. for peach lovers

&list=RD3GCrzjVdmSg&start_radio=1

[Norrrm]

5. " up to $9 million in federal aid to remove up to 420,000" productive trees

The Trump/republican economy.

[Teacher of the Year]

6. Is that offer due to water?

I hope they have a plan to replant in a way that produces as much food but not from crops that rely so heavily on pumped in water.

[EuterpeThelo]

7. This

makes me unspeakably sad. Our family spaghetti recipe that is now on its fourth generation of being passed down relies on DelMonte tomato sauce.