Local BusinessFriday, November 6
SoCal Berry Growers plans to close six Oxnard and Ventura farms and lay off 572 workers
The Daily Oxnard team
If you or someone you know picks berries in Oxnard or Ventura, this one is big. SoCal Berry Growers plans to close six farms there, according to a letter to the city of Oxnard. The company supplies strawberries for Driscoll's.
572employees to be terminated, including 459 harvesters
That's the count in the company's letter to the city of Oxnard.
Source: Los Angeles Times
The Ventura County Star photographed harvests at ranches set to stop strawberry operations at the end of the year, including Parks Harbor Ranch on W. Gonzales Road in Oxnard. Strawberries are Ventura County's leading crop, yet production costs outran wholesale revenue.
Strawberry production costs topped wholesale revenue in Ventura County
Source: Los Angeles Times
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Wholesale revenue | $808 million |
| Production costs | $815 million |
In July, SoCal Berry Growers employees voted to unionize under the United Farm Workers. The state labor board denied the company's claims of misconduct.
“The UFW is familiar with these tactics and will utilize all legal options to defend our members' rights.”
- Closures: Jan. 11 to Jan. 25
- Letter to the city of Oxnard: dated Oct. 31
- Past closure: Mandalay Berry Farms announced 565 layoffs in 2016
Sources: Los Angeles Times, Ventura County Star