Del Monte will sell its Cambria corn packing plant and close down its Illinois mills in Minnesota

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MENDOTA, Ill. – Del Monte Foods is closing a corn mill in north-central Illinois, putting more than 600 seasonal and full-time employees at rest.

The parent company Del Monte Pacific Ltd. announced Tuesday that the closure of the Mendota plant was part of a restructuring. Del Monte will also close a plant in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, and sell one in Cambria, Wisconsin. Production will be completed at the end of the current packing season.

Joselito D. Campos Jr., CEO of Del Monte Pacific, said, "Restructuring is a necessary step so we can stay competitive in a fast-moving market."

The News-Tribune Room reports that the Mendota plant employs about 30 employees and 100 employees at the hour and up to 550 seasonal workers. Layoffs will begin in October.