"We were blinded" | New

The latest job loss comes as Del Monte Foods begins shutting down local facilities in October. The move will eliminate 111 full-time employees and 362 seasonal employees.

McConville said the city was officially informed on Tuesday and a company spokesman said the decision would come as a result of restructuring Del Monte Foods to remain competitive in a changing market.

McConville said that while it was difficult to learn about the closure, the city was eagerly awaiting new jobs when the ADM flour mill opened next month and continued growth of Starved Rock Wood Products in the US. the former RR Donnelley building.

"The job market is very, very good," McConville said. "I've already had indirect contacts with companies that have announced their intention to recruit."

Concurrently with the closure of Mendota, Del Monte also announced plans to close facilities in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Greg Longstreet, President and CEO of Del Monte, told Microsoft News in May that tariffs were increasing the cost of steel and aluminum used to make food cans. Tim Schramm of Coyne Public Relations said Tuesday that Del Monte was not planning to pull out of the canning business. The company plans to expand its business beyond traditional grocery offerings and to other markets, including e-commerce.

Kristen School, director of Mendota Primary Schools, said she was saddened by this news and concerned about the impact it would have on district students as they prepare to return to school. school.

"If the factory is not located here, it means the loss of families," she said. "So it's a potential impact on listings and our tax base."

Len Schwemlein of Mendota said that this is not just the jobs of Del Monte, but many secondary jobs will also be lost.

"It will affect the truck drivers who were transporting for them," he said.

And one of the biggest questions: what will happen to the annual sweet corn festival?

Katie Fox, President and CEO of the Mendota Region Chamber of Commerce, issued a statement Wednesday morning.

"The Mendota Region Chamber of Commerce is saddened by the announcement of the upcoming closure of the Del Monte production plant, which has been a staple of our community for decades," she said. he declared.

"With regard to our annual sweet corn festival, we are still an agricultural community and we will have to revise the processes in place, but at the present time we are more concerned about the members of our community than it is directly affected.

The chamber also thanked Del Monte for his many years of support to the community.

McConville said the city hopes to meet soon with Del Monte officials to discuss the future of the property. The company currently has 431 acres, including 35 acres for maintenance purposes. An additional 200 acres are being used for silage treatment and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has opened a pending record as a result of the killing of a fish in the Little Vermilion River. ;last year.

Del Monte expects all products to be shipped from Mendota by June 2020, by which time the plant will be completely shut down. The company also operates a small warehouse in Rochelle, but nothing says if it would remain active.