AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT CUTRALE CITRUS JUICES

Auburndale, Florida-based Cutrale Citrus Juices USA, a subsidiary of the Brazilian company Sucocitrico Cutrale, is the largest orange juice processor in the United States, has announced the closure of its orange juice production facility in Leesburg, Florida.

The closure will impact 117 employees in two phases between July 31, 2024 and October 31, 2024.

The decision was driven by the actions of a “primary business partner who has decided to move packing operations from the Leesburg facility to their own facilities.”

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 bad 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. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT PRIMA WAWONA

Fresno, California-based Prima Wawona, one of the largest growers and packers of tree fruit in California, has announced a major sell-off of 16,000 acres of prime agricultural land and a mass reduction in force.

The reduction in force will impact 5,411 employees, including 121 full-time positions (managers, accountants, directors, sales representatives, and supervisors) and 3,743 seasonal employees.

The decision was driven by the company's financial collapse into Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 13, 2023, and the lack of a buyer to resurrect the company.

According to court documents, the collapse was caused by mismanagement, a lack of understanding of the volatile tree fruit industry, and the use of high-priced consultants who were “either performing poorly or doing nothing at all.”

It appears that this is another case of financial engineering by a private equity firm that did not understand the business of farming.

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 bad 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. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT BLOUNT FINE FOODS

Fall River, Massachusetts-based Blount Fine Foods, a wholesale manufacturer of pre-prepared foods and soups, has announced its intention to shut down its 80,000-square-foot food production facility in Portland, Oregon.

The facility closure will impact 198 employees.

According to Blount president and CEO Todd Blount, the company’s president and CEO, "The company plans to consolidate production to more established facilities in New England and Texas ahead of the fresh soup industry’s off-season.”

“We understand how difficult this is on the hard-working folks in that facility and are working to support them through this transition. While our Portland plant will ramp down production over the next two months, we will keep it at the ready for possible reintroduction as needed.”

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 bad 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. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?