USDA Announces Tree-Pull Program
Published Friday, May 15, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to provide up to $9 million to fund a cling peach tree removal program following financial impacts tied to the Del Monte Foods bankruptcy. The program is intended to help displaced cling peach growers transition acreage to alternative crops as nearly 50,000 tons of fruit production are affected.
In addition to the USDA funding, the California Cling Peach Association will contribute $1.5 million toward the effort. USDA is expected to release proposed program rules soon, followed by a 15-day public comment period before final regulations are issued.
Once finalized, CCPA will begin accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Participating growers will receive payments of $175 per ton based on their 2025 production, with payments ranging from a minimum of $1,500 per acre to a maximum of $4,000 per acre. Farm Bureau also recognizes the efforts of Mike Thompson, David Valadao, Adam Schiff and 38 members of California’s bipartisan congressional delegation for supporting the request to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. For more information, contact: treepull@calpeach.com.
Staff contact: Matthew Viohl, mviohl@cfbf.com.
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