Several longstanding food and beverage production facilities in California have announced closures in early 2026, dealing a significant blow to local workforces and regional supply chains. The shutdowns will impact nearly 2,500 employees, leaving California workers reeling as once stable jobs crumble.
Del Monte Foods cannery to shut down after a century of operation
Del Monte Foods has confirmed that it will close its Modesto fruit cannery in early 2026, ending operations at one of the last remaining processing hubs for canned fruit in California’s Central Valley. The announcement comes as part of the company’s broader bankruptcy restructuring, which saw assets sold through a court-supervised process earlier this year.
The closure will affect an estimated 600 full-time employees, along with 1,200 seasonal workers who had been hired during peak harvest periods for processing peaches, apricots, and pears.
Local agricultural officials have warned that the loss of the cannery could ripple through the region’s farm economy, leaving growers without a nearby buyer for their crops and squeezing related service industries.
JBS Swift beef plant closes in Riverside
In Southern California, JBS Swift Beef Company has moved forward with plans to shutter its case-ready beef processing facility in Riverside. The plant’s closure took effect on February 2, 2026, as part of a corporate strategy to optimize operations across the company’s broader production network.
According to notices filed with the state’s Employment Development Department, the shutdown will eliminate 374 jobs, as workers are offered opportunities to transfer to other JBS facilities or pursue other employment. The Riverside plant’s closure reflects ongoing pressures within the meatpacking industry, including tight cattle supplies and rising costs that have prompted companies to rationalize their footprints.
Historic California cheese plant to close
Another blow to the state’s food manufacturing base comes with the planned closure of a 115-year-old mozzarella cheese plant in Lemoore, California, operated by Leprino Foods. Announced in late 2024, the shutdown of the Lemoore East facility is scheduled for early 2026, and will affect over 300 employees.
Leprino Foods, the world’s largest producer of mozzarella cheese, cited high operating costs, an aging facility, and the opening of newer, larger operations in states like Texas as factors in the decision to exit the historic California site.
Economic and community impact
The closures of these three facilities collectively underscore mounting economic pressures on traditional manufacturing in California. For workers and communities tied to these plants, the shutdowns bring significant job losses and uncertainty for local supply chains, while highlighting broader questions about the future of food production in high-cost regions.
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