Food And Farm News
11-19-25
California peach growers file half-billion-dollar claim
California cling peach growers face an uncertain future after long-term contracts worth more than a half-billion dollars in total were voided by Del Monte Foods, which filed for bankruptcy in July. In August, the major canned foods company exercised its right under federal bankruptcy law to reject its contracts with members of the California Canning Peach Association, which represents about 70% of the state's cling peach growers. Del Monte's rejection of peach contracts has left several dozen growers without a future buyer for their fruit, exposing some to steep losses should they fail to recoup the upfront cost-typically several thousand dollars per acre-of developing their orchards. "We have lots of anxious peach growers not sure what the future holds for them," said Rich Hudgins, president and CEO of the peach association. This month, the association filed a claim seeking $555 million in damages.
State proposal to require reporting on treated seeds
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation plans to add pesticide-treated seeds to the monthly use reports growers already must file with county agricultural commissioners. As part of the proposal, the state would also limit seed treatments to those products registered both federally and by the state. Under a lawsuit settlement between DPR and environmental groups, the state must develop and finalize a rule to label and track pesticide-treated seed use by Jan. 1, 2027. Paul Sanguinetti, who farms tree and row crops with his sons near Stockton, has for years relied on pesticide treatments on corn seed to control soil-borne pests such as wireworms. Should the proposal be adopted as written, Sanguinetti said it would add more recordkeeping at times to an already cumbersome task. "It's another reporting job when you're trying to plant," Sanguinetti said.
Report maps impact of wine market woes on vineyard acreage
California winegrape growers removed nearly 40,000 acres of vineyards-roughly 7% of the state's winegrape acreage-between October 2024 and August 2025, according to a new report commissioned by the California Association of Winegrape Growers. The 2025 Standing Winegrape Acreage report, which was conducted by Land IQ and released earlier this month, provided the most detailed view yet on the location and amount of acreage growers have pulled out in response to a global downturn in wine sales. "We have a lot of information now about the acreage in the state, and we have a good basis and foundation to go forward now in having more accurate numbers and being able to make better predictions about where we're going in the future," said Jeff Bitter, president of the grower-owned marketing group Allied Grape Growers.
On the Record: Jeff Gonzalez shares insights on state policymaking
California Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez, R-Indio, spoke with Ag Alert® this month about his observations following his first year in the Assembly. "There is a lot of talk about protecting our farmers and ranchers here in California, but there's very little action," said Gonzalez, whose district encompasses Imperial County and parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. "California needs to be competitive in farming and ranching, and we need to make a significant change in the way we look at the people who feed us." The first-term lawmaker, who is a Marine Corps veteran and a former pastor, said he has sought opportunities to implement "pragmatic" policies that make a difference for Californians. He is part of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators-13 Democrats, 13 Republicans-that pursues policy solutions across party lines.
For more information about any story in Food and Farm News, contact the California Farm Bureau Marketing/Communications Division at 916-561-5550 or email news@cfbf.com. Connect with us on Facebook, X, or Instagram: @CAFarmBureau.
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