A tomato packing and farming company near Firebaugh plans to lay off 262 workers.
Garguilo Inc., located just south of the city and employing mostly Firebaugh workers, sent a letter to the city detailing the layoffs. The cuts make up more than 33% of the total work force and are effective June 15. Of the layoffs, 233 are in farm operations and 29 are in the packinghouse, according to the letter.
Garguilo executives did not return calls seeking comment.
The company is among Firebaugh’s top five employers, according to City Manager José Antonio Ramírez. Ramírez said the layoffs are a “devastating loss” to Firebaugh, which had a 31% unemployment rate in February.
Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/04/08/1889648/tomato-company-layoffs-hit-firebaugh.html#ixzz0kZsh2p2P
