California to destroy 420000 peach trees. Del Monte closes canning facilities

6 hours ago

Del Monte's closure of canneries in Modesto and Hughson left California cling peach farmers with a massive surplus of fruit and no buyer.
Farmers are considering destroying about 3,000 acres (420,000 trees) to pivot to more profitable crops, aided by $9 million in USDA federal funds.
Del Monte's bankruptcy stemmed from declining demand for canned goods, rising operational costs (including tariffs on steel), and long-term contracts worth over $550 million.
Farmers face additional challenges like tariffs, the Iran war disrupting fertilizer imports, and drought, making crop transitions expensive and time-consuming.
Some growers, like the McGraths, note that alternative crops (prunes, almonds) are less lucrative or require years of investment to turn a profit.

Grocery prices have seen the biggest jump in 50 years, with a 33% increase since 2019 in U.S. cities.
Americans are changing shopping habits: couponing, comparison shopping, cutting back on favorite foods, and using apps for deals.
Reasons for price increases include the pandemic, supply chain issues, droughts, tariffs, and the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Iran War threatens a global food crisis by disrupting fertilizer supply, as modern farming depends on cheap nitrogen fertilizer produced via the Haber-Bosch process using natural gas.
The conflict cut off 17% of global natural gas supply and over 30% of nitrogen fertilizer supply, with ships trapped in the Gulf and fertilizer plants shut down or damaged.
Fertilizer prices spiked during planting seasons in India, the U.S., and Australia, causing reduced crop yields and financial strain for farmers, especially in vulnerable regions like Africa and Brazil.

The author bought a home after 20 years of disciplined saving, but had to relocate from Chicago to an affordable rural town, questioning why they cannot afford a city home.
Homeownership is a key wealth-building tool; homeowners have vastly higher net worth than renters, yet rising prices and investor purchases make it increasingly inaccessible.
Productivity has grown significantly since 1979, but wage growth has lagged, with gains going to executives, shareholders, and corporate profits instead of typical workers.

Donald Trump declined to renew the USMCA, jeopardizing tariff-free North American trade and business certainty.
NAFTA/USMCA enabled deeply integrated cross-border supply chains, especially in the auto industry, boosting competitiveness and lowering costs.
Uncertainty from rolling negotiations is damaging; predictability is more valuable than low tariffs alone.

Trump's tariff plan is described as a disaster for America, even by the administration's own benchmarks.
The article uses an allegory of contractors burning and smashing a house to criticize Trump's economic policies.
U.S. manufacturing has declined over decades, with flat industrial production since 2007 and outdated military capabilities.

Grocery prices have seen the biggest jump in 50 years, with a 33% increase since 2019 in U.S. cities.
Americans are changing shopping habits: couponing, comparison shopping, cutting back on favorite foods, and using apps for deals.
Reasons for price increases include the pandemic, supply chain issues, droughts, tariffs, and the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Iran War threatens a global food crisis by disrupting fertilizer supply, as modern farming depends on cheap nitrogen fertilizer produced via the Haber-Bosch process using natural gas.
The conflict cut off 17% of global natural gas supply and over 30% of nitrogen fertilizer supply, with ships trapped in the Gulf and fertilizer plants shut down or damaged.
Fertilizer prices spiked during planting seasons in India, the U.S., and Australia, causing reduced crop yields and financial strain for farmers, especially in vulnerable regions like Africa and Brazil.

The author bought a home after 20 years of disciplined saving, but had to relocate from Chicago to an affordable rural town, questioning why they cannot afford a city home.
Homeownership is a key wealth-building tool; homeowners have vastly higher net worth than renters, yet rising prices and investor purchases make it increasingly inaccessible.
Productivity has grown significantly since 1979, but wage growth has lagged, with gains going to executives, shareholders, and corporate profits instead of typical workers.

Donald Trump declined to renew the USMCA, jeopardizing tariff-free North American trade and business certainty.
NAFTA/USMCA enabled deeply integrated cross-border supply chains, especially in the auto industry, boosting competitiveness and lowering costs.
Uncertainty from rolling negotiations is damaging; predictability is more valuable than low tariffs alone.

Trump's tariff plan is described as a disaster for America, even by the administration's own benchmarks.
The article uses an allegory of contractors burning and smashing a house to criticize Trump's economic policies.
U.S. manufacturing has declined over decades, with flat industrial production since 2007 and outdated military capabilities.

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