NEWS: Sen. Schiff, Reps. Thompson, Valadao Lead Calls for USDA Assistance for Peach Farmers

California Farmers Need Relief Following Peach Processing Plant Closure

Yuba-Sutter Region, California - Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04), and Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.-22) led a bipartisan group of 39 colleagues to request Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issue assistance to peach farmers in Yuba and Sutter Counties. Following the closure of the Del Monte processing facility in Modesto, countless peach growers in the region are facing widespread contract cancellations and lack a viable path to mitigate their losses.

"The Del Monte facility processed a substantial share of the state's canned fruit production, including more than 30 percent of California peaches. With no comparable alternative processing capacity available, producers are facing severe uncertainty and financial hardship," wrote the lawmakers. "Our domestic producers already face a multitude of challenges, and it is critical that we use available federal resources to preserve these farmers' ability to produce healthy, fresh food for Americans. We respectfully request that USDA utilize its authorities to stabilize affected producers and communities."

The lawmakers requested the following actions:

• USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service provide $9 million to help interested growers transition to another permanent crop.
• USDA's existing disaster and market disruption programs (e.g., Farm Service Agency's Tree Assistance Program) be made maximally accessible to impacted growers.
• Technical assistance and economic development support be provided to affected communities.

In addition to Schiff, Thompson, and Valadao, the letter was also signed by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11), and Representatives Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.-31), Lou Correa (D-Calif.-46), Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), Vince Fong (R-Calif.-20), Laura Friedman (D-Calif.-30), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Adam Gray (D-Calif.-13), Josh Harder (D-Calif.-09), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Young Kim (R-Calif.-40), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Dave Min (D-Calif.-47), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.-23), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Luz Rivas (D-Calif.-29), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.-12), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.-32), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-14), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Derek Tran (D-Calif.-45), and George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27).

Full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Secretary Rollins,

We write to request the immediate assistance of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in relation to the Del Monte processing facility closure in Modesto, California. As a result of this closure, countless peach growers are facing widespread contract cancellations and lack a viable avenue to mitigate their losses.

The Del Monte facility processed a substantial share of the state's canned fruit production, including more than 30 percent of California peaches. With no comparable alternative processing capacity available, producers are facing severe uncertainty and financial hardship. These growers have long supplied the nation with nutritious and delicious fruit, and without USDA action, these growers will have nowhere to turn to maintain their livelihoods. Our domestic producers already face a multitude of challenges, and it is critical that we use available federal resources to preserve these farmers' ability to produce healthy, fresh food for Americans.

• We respectfully request that USDA utilize its authorities to stabilize affected producers and communities. More specifically, we request that USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service provide $9 million to help growers transition to another permanent crop, that the Department's existing disaster and market disruption programs (e.g., Farm Service Agency's Tree Assistance Program) be made maximally accessible to impacted growers, and that technical assistance and economic development support be provided to affected communities.

Many impacted growers are multi-generational family farmers who have invested decades in orchards built around stable processor relationships. These operations anchor local employment and regional economies. Without a proper response, there is a risk of long-term structured damage to our nation's agricultural base.

We look forward to working closely with USDA to swiftly identify and implement practical solutions. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

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