California peach farmers brace for 420,000-tree purge after Del Monte collapse

Central California peach farmers will destroy about 420,000 clingstone peach trees after Del Monte Foods shut its Modesto and Hughson canneries, leaving around 50,000 tons of peaches without buyers. Federal officials approved up to $9 million in emergency aid to remove about 3,000 acres of orchards, a move expected to avert roughly $30 million in further losses and allow growers to pivot to alternative crops.