California peach growers are removing hundreds of thousands of trees after the closure of Del Monte canning facilities left farmers without a major buyer for cling peaches, according to Fortune magazine. The report said one Del Monte plant had processed roughly 30% of California’s cling peach crop. Growers now expect approximately 420,000 peach trees to be destroyed as producers reduce acreage and attempt to limit future losses. Industry leaders said the closures reflect broader challenges facing specialty crop growers, including labor shortages, rising production costs and reduced consumer demand for canned fruit products. Some farmers said they may shift acreage to almonds or other crops with stronger market opportunities. Agricultural economists warned that the reductions could affect rural jobs and local processing businesses throughout California’s Central Valley. Growers are also seeking additional export opportunities and state assistance to help stabilize the industry.
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