Del Monte to Close 2 Canning Plants

Fruit and vegetable canning company Del Monte Foods is closing two of its US plants with layoffs starting April 26, 2024.

The canned produce and fruit snack company is closing its Toppenish, WA and Markesan, WI sites. According to Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) notices, the Toppenish site employs 127 workers and handles corn and peas.

The Markesan plant has 90 folks who will lose their jobs and cans green beans. The Toppenish WARN letter was sent Feb. 27, 2024, and the Markesan letter sent Feb. 26, 2024.

Some operations, including labeling and distribution, will be running until fall. No reason is cited in the Markesan, WI WARN letter, which was signed by Dan Mattila, senior manager of production.

In 2019, Del Monte Del Monte closed three food processing facilities and laid off more than 800 workers. Facilities affected were located in Sleepy Eye, MN and Mendota, IL. Del Monte's Cambria, WI facility was sold as an operating facility after completion of pack. The company also sold manufacturing assets at its Crystal City, TX location.

A report by IBIS World, "Canned Fruit & Vegetable Processing in the US market size (2024-2029)," reveals industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 0.5% over the past five years, to reach an estimated $49.5bn in 2024. The report goes on to state that canned fruits and vegetables usually grow during economic uncertainty and during economic growth, consumers stick to fresh and pricier produce.

There is still the stigma that canned and processed produce is less nutritious than fresh. Canned produce companies have instilled products with less salt, no sugar and more to try to gain back consumers.