Stanislaus County hit by recent layoffs from employer closures. Here’s what to know

Stanislaus County is facing hundreds of job losses because three employers shut down or sold operations in recent months. The closures span the food processing, linen service and auto parts industries, affecting nearly 2,000 workers combined.

Here are key takeaways:

• Del Monte Foods is closing its Modesto fruit cannery, cutting about 600 year-round jobs and 1,200 seasonal harvest positions. The company filed for bankruptcy July 1, and no buyer offered to keep the plant running.

• Del Monte’s closure leaves Pacific Coast Producers in Lodi as the region’s only fruit canner. County Supervisor Vito Chiesa said local peach growers with Del Monte contracts will suffer. Stanislaus County peach acreage dropped from 13,332 in 1980 to 2,676 in 2024.

• Cannery workers represented by Teamsters Local 948 earned $20 to $40 an hour. “It’s just horrible for us,” business coordinator Odus Hall said. “We were hopeful that they would be able to right the ship and find a buyer.”

• Advanced Linen Service in Patterson laid off 89 workers after selling to multinational competitor Alsco Uniforms. Co-owner Gordon Hickman said he couldn’t afford to buy out his two co-owners, who left due to health concerns.

• Auto parts company First Brands Group is closing its Patterson distribution center, cutting 98 jobs. Top executives were indicted on federal fraud and money laundering charges, and the company filed for bankruptcy in September.

• Stanislaus County Workforce Development, at 251 E. Hackett Road in Modesto, is helping displaced workers with retraining, resumes and job searches. Director Doris Foster said other businesses have told the agency they need skilled labor. Workers can call 209-558-2100.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full stories linked above were reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.