Del Monte was killed by COVID. Canned food sales spiked and they thought that would last, but it didn't.

The specific peaches referred to in this story are "Cling peaches", which can only be canned, they aren't sold fresh. But modern supply chains mean fresh peaches of other varieties are easily available, which has reduced the demand for canned.

They'll probably replace the trees with almonds, pistachios, and walnuts.

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namenotrequired 7 hours ago | parent [-]

Thanks for your answers!

> Del Monte was killed by COVID. Canned food sales spiked and they thought that would last, but it didn't.

Why can’t they reduce to their former size? It seems the California plants had been around long before Covid

	▲	bombcar 7 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Debt financing means you can basically never reduce back down, the debt load kills you (as it did here). If anything would have been profitable spun off, it would have been spun off in the bankruptcy.
	▲	LeoPanthera 7 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		They permanently closed their Modesto and Hughson canneries in early 2026, and voided 20-year contracts with around 70 California cling peach growers.