Layoffs In The Berry Patch
Santa Maria Farms Lay Off Almost 900 Workers
February 6,2016-
Some strawberry fields are not forever.
El Dorado Berry Farms, LLC – a family owned and operated farming
company which has grown its own strawberries and
raspberries in California for
more than eight years – permanently closed down its operations in Santa Maria and Los Alamos “due to economic reasons.”
says a news release.Owner Humberto Candelario says their Santa Barbara County
berry operations were located on
leased ranches and farmed with partner Reiter Affiliated Companies. They grow berries for Driscoll.“Recently, notices were sent
under the WARN Act which
indicated 653 individuals
were laid off from our
farming operation. For
clarity, Sixteen percent of
those were to individuals
laid off in November and
December 2015, while the
remaining
84% were employees who were
laid off or who resigned at
some earlier time during 2015,
as part of the normal
seasonal cycles.”Candelario says weather played a role in the downturn in the Santa Maria area this past year.
“El Dorado deeply regrets that the rising cost of resources has created a financial
situation in which it must close its Santa Barbara County operations. Going forward, El Dorado will focus efforts on its berry operations at its permanent locations in Ventura County.”
Meanwhile a second Santa Maria company – Superior Farming LLC – also a partner with Reiter Affiliated Co of Oxnard has filed a state mandated layoff notice as well with the loss of 225 jobs by March 1.
Together that adds up to 878 layoffs.
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