Major strawberry producer quits farms in Southern California: ‘Water quadrupled. Labor nearly doubled’

Major strawberry producer quits farms in Southern California: ‘Water quadrupled. Labor nearly doubled’ The end of operations comes months after SoCal Berry Growers employees voted to join the United Farm Workers, a unionization effort the company unsuccessfully challenged - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in A major California strawberry grower is cutting ties with six farms and laying off more than 500 workers as soaring water and labor costs squeeze the industry. SoCal Berry Growers, a supplier for strawberry giant Driscoll’s, plans to permanently close its operations at six locations in Ventura County, according to a letter sent to Oxnard city officials Saturday. The closures, which will affect farms along California's Central Coast, and the resulting job cuts, are expected to take place between January 11 and January 25, 2027. “As a result and based on currently available information, all the Company’s operations will cease and approximately 572 employees may suffer a permanent employment loss,” the letter states. Driscoll’s, the world’s largest berry producer, sources its strawberries from independent family farms in growing regions including Florida, Mexico and Virginia, as well as other locations around the world, according to its website. The news comes as California farmers grapple with soaring production costs, including water, fuel, fertilizer and labor. “Water quadrupled. Labor nearly doubled,” a recent study by the Farm Bureau of Ventura County titled "The $2.4 Billion Crisis,” states, pointing to how much more expensive it has become to keep farms running. Strawberries were the county's top cash crop in 2025, generating approximately $807.8 million in revenue. But it cost farmers more than $815 million to produce them, according to Louise Lampara, CEO of the Farm Bureau of Ventura County. “They didn’t make a penny and paid $8.1 million out of pocket,” Lampara told SFGATE. Irrigation water prices jumped from $22.10 per acre-inch in 2007 to $88.83 in 2025, the report found. Meanwhile, hourly labor costs increased from $13 in 2020 to $25.16 in 2025. “It's an industry in crisis,” Lampara said. The rising expenses are making it increasingly difficult for American growers to compete with imported produce, Lampara added. Farmers have little control over what grocery stores and other buyers pay for their crops, even as the cost of producing them continues to climb. "We have such pressure right now from importers," she said, pointing to record volumes of imported strawberries, avocados and lemons. Lampara said that overseas growers may operate under different regulatory requirements, making it harder for California farms to compete on price. SoCal Berry Growers ceasing operations with the six farms comes months after the company’s employees voted to unionize with the United Farm Workers of America in July. The company challenged the unionization effort, alleging misconduct, but the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board upheld the election in August, ruling that it had not been conducted improperly. "SoCal management is now saying it will shut down, in what we believe is a clear violation of the law to avoid their legal and moral obligations to the workers who pick the strawberries," United Farm Workers Vice President Roman Pinal said in a statement to the Ventura County Star this week. The union said it plans to pursue legal options to protect its members. The Independent has contacted SoCal Berry Growers and the United Farm Workers of America for comment. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments