Brawley, California, October 21, 2025
News Summary
The Spreckels Sugar Co. plant in Brawley, California, is set to close, marking the end of sugar beet production in the state. Owned by Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative, the closure will occur after the current processing year, resulting in 249 job losses at the facility. This decision comes amid long-term financial challenges, impacting not only the local economy but also around 700 jobs in the agricultural sector. Imperial County leaders declared an economic emergency due to the significant payroll and economic impact of the shutdown.
California’s Spreckels Sugar Co. plant in Brawley is set to close, leading to the end of sugar beet production in the state. The decision, announced by the plant’s owner, Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative (SMBSC), will take effect at the end of the current processing year, after March. This closure represents a significant blow to the local economy, with Imperial County leaders declaring a state of economic emergency due to the impending job losses.
The shutdown is expected to eliminate 249 full-time jobs at the facility, which has operated since 1947 and played a vital role in California’s agricultural history. This equates to a loss of $16.7 million in payroll and approximately $28 million in annual economic impact. The decision to close the plant comes after a thorough evaluation of long-term financial and operational challenges that ultimately deemed the Brawley facility no longer viable.
The repercussions of the closure extend beyond the immediate job losses. Estimates suggest that as many as 700 jobs could be affected across the broader agricultural sector due to the closure. Approximately 28,000 acres of contracted sugar beet farming, which employs around 400 workers directly, will also be impacted. The operations of the Brawley plant will be moved to a more efficient factory in Renville, Minnesota, driven by rising production costs and falling sugar prices.
This decision marks the end of sugar beet farming in California, as federal regulations prohibit processing sugar beets at other facilities once the Brawley plant ceases operations. The local economy, which has consistently faced the highest unemployment rate in California, will encounter even more challenges due to this closure. The loss of the plant places additional strain on an already struggling region, where local growers and officials have expressed frustration at being left uninformed about the closure decision until now. Many are now scrambling to identify alternative crops or solutions.
Over the years, sugar beets have been a significant contributor to the U.S. agriculture sector, with $1.18 billion reported in cash receipts from sugar farming in 2019. In Imperial County, yields average 40 tons of sugar beets per acre, indicating the crop’s importance to local farmers. However, the closure risks leaving many fields fallow and decreasing local employment opportunities, as the community seeks alternatives in crop production amid dwindling options.
Local growers have viewed the closure as a culmination of a trend where sugar plants in the western U.S. have shuttered due to unfavorable market conditions and federal policies. SMBSC had invested nearly $100 million over the last decade to modernize the Brawley operation, but despite these efforts, a return to financial viability remained elusive.
With the closure finalized, the community is now in a race against time to seek out viable alternatives, though the limited options pose a significant concern for the future of local agricultural workers.
FAQs
FAQ
- What is happening to the Spreckels Sugar Co. plant in California?
- The Spreckels Sugar Co. plant in Brawley is closing, eliminating the last sugar beet factory in the state.
- When will the closure of the plant take effect?
- The closure will take effect at the end of the current processing year, after March.
- What are the anticipated job losses due to the closure?
- The closure is expected to eliminate 249 full-time jobs, but may affect around 700 jobs in total.
- Why is the plant closing?
- A thorough evaluation cited long-term financial and operational challenges as reasons for the closure.
- What will happen to the sugar beet farming in California?
- The closure marks the end of sugar beet farming in California as there are no alternative processing options available in the state.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Closure of Plant | Spreckels Sugar Co. in Brawley, CA |
| Effective Date | End of current processing year, after March |
| Job Losses | 249 full-time jobs, potential total impact of 700 jobs |
| Economic Impact | $16.7 million in payroll, $28 million in annual activity |
| History | Plant operational since 1947 |
| Industry Contribution | Sugar beets contributed $1.18 billion nationwide in 2019 |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Calexico Chronicle
- Los Angeles Times
- Desert Review
- Wikipedia
- Google Search: Sugar Beet Industry California
Author: STAFF HERE BEVERLY HILLS WRITER
The Beverly Hills Staff Writer represents the experienced team at HEREBeverlyHills.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance, the Beverly Hills artSHOW, Concerts on Canon, and holiday celebrations throughout the city. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce and Visit Beverly Hills, plus leading businesses in luxury fashion, hospitality, and entertainment that drive the local economy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERELosAngeles.com, HERESantaAna.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, and HERECostaMesa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape.
