- 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.