Los Angeles, California-based The Wonderful Company, an agricultural holding company that grows, harvests, bottles, packages, and markets a diverse range of products, including fruits, nuts, flowers, water, wines, and juices, has announced a significant reduction in its workforce at its Wasco, California grapevine production facility as it withdraws from grapevine rootstock production. While Wonderful produces wine, it markets table grape rootstock instead of growing the actual grapes which it leaves to others.
The decision to wind down operations will impact hundreds of employees. All but a skeleton crew will retain their jobs, and approximately 15 employees out of 500 will remain.
Wonderful Orchards President Rob Yraceburu noted, "A business decision like this is unfortunate and painful. We care deeply about our employees, including those from our farm labor contractors, many of whom have been part of our family season after season. This business wind-down is different than our usual seasonal layoffs, and we are even more committed to helping every employee as much as possible."
It should be noted that the company is in a major battle with the United Farm Workers over operations at the Wasco facility. The company denies that the labor issue drove the decision in a declining marketplace.
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?
