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Baloian Farms files layoff notice for 106 Fresno workers

Baloian Farms files layoff notice for 106 Fresno workers

Money Moves Fresno, CA local

Produce company's WARN filing gives 29 days' notice, short of the 60 the law requires

October 1st, 2026: Baloian Farms files WARN notice for 106 workers

Overview

Updated 53 minutes ago

Baloian Farms, a fourth-generation Fresno produce company, told California regulators on October 1 that it will lay off 106 workers at its Blythe Avenue facility. The last day of work is set for October 30.

The filing gives 29 days of notice, short of the 60 days the federal WARN Act requires. The company labeled the layoff temporary. If the short notice stands, affected workers could be owed back pay for the difference.

Why it matters

If the 29-day notice stands, 106 Fresno workers may be owed up to 60 days of back pay under the WARN Act.

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Key Indicators

106
Workers covered by WARN notice
Affected employees at Baloian Farms' Blythe Avenue facility.
29
Days of notice given
Between the Oct. 1 filing and the Oct. 30 layoff date; the WARN Act requires 60.
60
Days of notice WARN Act requires
Both federal and California law require 60 days' advance notice for a mass layoff.

Voices

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

2 events Latest: October 1st, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
  1. Scheduled layoff date

    Upcoming Scheduled event

    106 workers are set to be laid off unless the company changes course.

  2. Baloian Farms files WARN notice for 106 workers

    Latest Filing

    Company notifies California's EDD of a planned layoff at its Blythe Avenue facility, with the last day of work set for Oct. 30.

Scenarios

1

Layoff proceeds as scheduled

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: The WARN filing itself; no major analysts are tracking this small layoff

Baloian Farms lays off 106 workers on Oct. 30 as stated in the notice. Workers receive whatever notice pay or severance the company offers. The story resolves quietly unless workers challenge the short notice.

2

Workers challenge the 29-day notice

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Employment attorneys who track California WARN filings

Affected workers or their representatives file a claim arguing the 29-day notice falls short of the 60 days required. If successful, Baloian could owe up to 60 days of back pay per worker. The company could argue workers were told earlier than the filing date or that an exception applies.

3

Temporary layoff becomes a recall

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: The company's own classification of the layoff as temporary

Baloian brings workers back as seasonal demand returns, making the layoff a brief pause. The company's produce business is seasonal, and the 'temporary' label on the notice suggests recall is possible.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

October 2023 - March 2024

Prima Wawona bankruptcy (2023-2024)

The private equity-led peach grower filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2023. After failing to find a buyer, it issued WARN notices for 5,400 workers, mostly seasonal, as it liquidated.

Then

Thousands of seasonal workers were not recalled; 121 full-time positions were cut.

Now

The collapse removed one of the Central Valley's largest peach growers and showed how quickly ag employers can shed workers.

Why this matters now

Prima Wawona's WARN notices in the same region show how Central Valley agriculture handles mass layoffs, and how seasonal workers dominate the workforce. Baloian's smaller notice follows the same pattern.

October 1993

Baloian packing facility fire (1993)

An arsonist set fire to Baloian's packing facility, destroying it. The company rebuilt and continued operating.

Then

The company recovered and rebuilt its packing operations.

Now

Baloian has operated for over a century, now in its fourth generation.

Why this matters now

The company has survived major disruptions before. The current layoff, labeled temporary, may be a seasonal adjustment rather than a sign of structural decline.

Sources

(4)