- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Modesto Today
By the People, for the People
Northern California Peach Growers Forced to Uproot Orchards After Cannery Closure
Farmers contracted with Del Monte must remove trees and transition to new crops after the company shutters its Modesto plant.
Mar. 19, 2026 at 12:49am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Peach growers in Northern California's Yuba-Sutter region are being forced to scale back production and remove hundreds, possibly thousands of acres of peach trees after Del Monte Foods announced it is closing its cannery in Modesto. Farmers who were contracted with Del Monte must now rip out their peach trees and transition to alternative crops, incurring significant costs and facing years before they can see a return on their new investments.
Why it matters
The closure of the Del Monte cannery in Modesto is having a devastating ripple effect on the region's peach farming community. Growers are being forced to remove their peach orchards, which will impact their livelihoods as well as the broader agricultural ecosystem, including laborers, truckers, and fuel companies that support the peach industry.
The details
Peach farmers in the Yuba-Sutter area are taking down hundreds, possibly thousands of acres of peach trees across the region in preparation for the Del Monte cannery closure on April 7. Growers who were contracted with Del Monte must now rip out their peach trees, which can cost $2,000 to $3,000 per acre, and transition to alternative crops that can take up to six years before they see a return on their investment. This is a major financial burden for the farmers, many of whom have had to lay off laborers who relied on the peach harvest for their livelihoods.
- Del Monte Foods announced it is closing its cannery in Modesto on April 7, 2026.
- Peach farmers in the Yuba-Sutter area are currently removing their peach orchards in preparation for the cannery closure.
The players
Del Monte Foods
A major food processing company that is closing its cannery in Modesto, California.
Sarb Johl
A peach farmer in Marysville, California who is being forced to remove his peach trees due to the Del Monte cannery closure.
What they’re saying
“Upset is an understatement. I mean, we just don't know what to do. We're sick to our stomachs.”
— Sarb Johl, Peach Farmer
“Instead of having additional revenue, you've got additional costs for removing an orchard. That's going to cost $2,000 to $3,000 an acre just to take the trees out and get the ground ready. Then you have to decide what alternative crop you're going to put in.”
— Sarb Johl, Peach Farmer
“There are a lot of families. Their livelihood is working in the peach farms. They're not going to have it.”
— Sarb Johl, Peach Farmer
What’s next
A group of local lawmakers is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture for $9 million in assistance to help the affected peach farmers transition their crops.
The takeaway
The closure of the Del Monte cannery in Modesto is having a devastating impact on the region's peach farming community, forcing growers to remove their orchards at significant financial cost and disrupting the livelihoods of many agricultural workers. This highlights the vulnerability of small and medium-sized farms to the decisions of large food processing companies and the need for greater support and diversification in the agricultural sector.
