Driscoll’s Supplier Plans to Close Six California Farms, Cutting 572 Jobs

The planned January shutdown comes as Ventura County strawberry growers face rising production costs and questions over the closure of recently unionized operations.

SoCal Berry Growers plans to permanently close six strawberry farms in Ventura County, eliminating approximately 572 jobs and adding to concerns about the financial health of one of California’s major agricultural regions. The shutdowns are scheduled for January 11–25, 2027, according to reporting on the company’s closure notice. The grower supplies strawberries sold under the Driscoll’s brand. FreshFruitPortal

The affected operations include four locations in Ventura and two in Oxnard, according to local station KEYT. For communities built around agriculture, the announcement means the loss of a substantial employer alongside uncertainty about the future of the farms. KEYT

Harvest workers will bear most of the immediate impact. Of the positions slated for elimination, 459 are harvesting jobs—roughly four out of every five jobs affected. Inc.

The closures come amid a troubling gap between agricultural sales and the cost of producing crops. Ventura County recorded approximately $2.41 billion in agricultural production value in 2025, with strawberries remaining its leading commodity at about $808 million. Yet the county’s production-cost estimates showed strawberry growers spent approximately $1.01 for every dollar generated.

Those figures illustrate how a valuable crop can still leave farmers losing money. Expenses for labor, land, irrigation, fertilizer, fuel, packaging and other necessities can consume the entire return from a harvest. The estimates describe the county’s strawberry industry broadly; they do not establish SoCal Berry Growers’ individual financial position. Ag Alert

The announcement has also drawn scrutiny because employees organized with the United Farm Workers earlier this year. State records show the union established majority support through signed authorization cards in July. SoCal Berry Growers challenged the certification, but the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board dismissed the company’s objections on August 6. ALRB order

The UFW believes the shutdown is a response to workers’ decision to unionize and has said it will pursue legal options to defend its members. That remains the union’s allegation. SoCal Berry Growers had not publicly explained its decision in the reporting reviewed, and the timing alone does not establish the company’s motive.

Driscoll’s, meanwhile, told Inc. it was saddened by the closures. The berry marketer pointed to difficult weather and economic conditions facing California growers and acknowledged the consequences for workers, families and surrounding communities. Inc.

Local officials expect the effects to extend beyond the fields. Oxnard Mayor Luis McArthur told ABC7 that retailers and contractors dependent on farm activity could also suffer, potentially producing additional job losses. The station reported that the city already offers assistance to help affected workers move into other industries. ABC7

For the hundreds of employees facing unemployment in January, access to replacement work will be the most immediate concern. The planned closures also leave Ventura County confronting a wider challenge: sustaining an agricultural economy in which strong crop sales increasingly struggle to cover the cost of farming.

AI-assisted article prepared for DutyStation News from linked reporting and public records. Information reviewed November 11, 2026. Original video: KCRA 3’s report on the planned farm closures. This article synthesizes those sources and does not contain original interviews.