Del Monte bankruptcy will result in 420,000 peach trees in California being destroyed

The Agriculture Department will provide up to $9 million to Central California farmers so they can destroy 420,000 peach trees. 

In April, Del Monte permanently closed its Modesto and Hughson canneries, after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year. The company canceled its 20-year contracts with peach farmers, who faced a $550 million loss of revenue, according to the Sacramento Bee. 

The department agreed to a request from California lawmakers to provide financial support to the fruit growers, SF Gate reported, which will pay for the removal of 3,000 acres of clingstone peach trees and save the farmers about $30 million in losses. 

Pacific Coast Producers purchased Del Monte's fruit-canning business earlier this year after a court approved the sale of the company's assets, the Bee also reported. Pacific Coast offered contracts to the farmers for about 24,000 tons of peaches, but approximately 50,000 tons will need to be destroyed.