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California peach growers plan to destroy about 420,000 clingstone peach trees after a decades-long partnership with Del Monte Foods collapsed, leaving farmers without buyers for tens of thousands of tons of fruit.
The move comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved up to $9 million in federal relief funds to help California farmers clear approximately 3,000 acres of peach orchards ahead of the 2026 harvest season, according to an announcement by Adam Schiff and California Congressmen.
The emergency aid comes in the aftermath of food giant Del Monte’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last year and the closure of Del Monte processing facilities in two California towns, Modesto and Hughson.
Here’s what you need to know about clingstone peach tree removal.
Why California peach farmers cut down their trees
Central California growers were thrown into crisis when Del Monte permanently closed its cannery earlier this year, terminating many long-standing grower contracts and leaving farmers without a major processing outlet for cleanstone peaches.
Many farmers maintained 20-year contracts with Del Monte to grow peaches exclusively for canning operations, MSN and the Sacramento Bee reported. Due to the sudden closure, producers reportedly braced themselves for an estimated $550 million in lost revenue.
Lawmakers said the USDA funding will allow growers to pull out trees that are no longer viable as a market, while also helping them transition to other crops.
“At the request of members of Congress, USDA’s farmer assistance includes up to $9 million to remove up to 420,000 cleanstone peach trees,” the office of Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said in a statement.
A USDA analysis found that by removing about 50,000 tons of peaches from production, growers could avoid estimated losses of about $30 million.
Member’s statement
“I am pleased that the Department of Agriculture has unlocked this federal funding following my request to the Trump Administration to provide relief to peach farmers,” Schiff said in a statement.
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) said the scale of the disruption has created a crisis that many family farms cannot absorb on their own.
“If a processing facility closes and 55,000 acres of fruit suddenly has nowhere to go, that’s not something a family farm can absorb alone,” Thompson said.
Rep. David Valadao (D-Calif.) said the Modesto facility has served as an important processing hub for generations of Central Valley farmers.
“For generations, family farms in the Central Valley have relied on Del Monte’s Modesto facility to process peaches, but its sudden closure has left growers with thousands of pounds of fruit and no clear path forward,” Valadao said.
The campaign, which sought bipartisan support, included nearly 40 members of Congress, including Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
What happened to Del Monte Foods?
Del Monte Foods filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July as the 138-year-old canned food company seeks to restructure its debt and sell its assets.
The company, known for its distinctive green canned fruit and vegetable labels, described the bankruptcy filing as a “strategic move” aimed at stabilizing its operations while continuing to serve customers.
President and CEO Greg Longstreet said in a company statement that the purpose of the bankruptcy process is to “accelerate our restructuring and create a stronger, more durable Del Monte Foods.”
Could shoppers notice the impact?
Even with the removal of the 420,000 Clinton peach trees, canned peach products are not expected to immediately disappear from grocery store shelves. But it highlights the financial strain facing California’s fruit canning industry following Del Monte’s bankruptcy and cannery closures.
Clingstone peaches, grown in California, are often used in canned fruit products, including those previously processed at Del Monte’s Modesto facility. Lawmakers said the USDA-backed tree removal program is intended to help farmers manage losses associated with the loss of many contracts related to Del Monte’s processing operations.
Del Monte said it plans to continue operating through the Chapter 11 process as it seeks to restructure the business and sell its remaining assets.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com or on Twitter @athompsonABJ.
