Gerawan Farms stonefruit is marketed under the Prima brand.

Millions of dollars in aid have been awarded to support farmworkers who lost their jobs as a major produce company prepares to shut its doors.

The California Employment Development Department (EDD) announced it has awarded $7 million to Sacramento-based La Cooperativa Campesina de California (La Cooperativa) to support farmworkers laid-off by stone fruit grower Prima Wawona.

Thousands of Prima Wawona works are losing their jobs after the Fresno based farming company filed for bankruptcy last October.

Fresnoland reported that along with 5,400 direct hires working for Prima Wawona that have been warned of future mass lay-offs, 5,000 workers hired through contractors to work for Wawona for the season will lose their jobs as well.

In January more than 5,400 workers received a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or a WARN notice, from the company regarding upcoming mass layoffs.

La Cooperativa’s mission is to support farmworkers in achieving financial prosperity and self-sufficiency through education, training, placement, and other supportive services.

The nonprofit will use the $7 million to provide outreach, employment and training services to farmworkers affected at Prima Wawona, as well as other agricultural workers laid off throughout the state.

The grant funding comes from discretionary funds made available to Gov. Gavin Newsom in accordance with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and administered by the EDD and the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

“California is home to one of the largest populations of farmworkers in the country – a population which regularly faces extensive barriers to finding new jobs once they are out of work.” said EDD Director Nancy Farias. “Ensuring that our farmworkers have access to the support and training they need to secure sustainable jobs is not just an investment in these workers, but an investment in our local economies.” 

The outreach will be focused on farmworkers recently laid off by a number of employers including Prima Wawona, TriMas, Campbell Soup Supply, Premium Services, Kern Vineyards, Silgan Containers, Pak ‘N Save, Foster Farms, Mariani Nut Company, Kings Garden Inc. and more.

The state’s 900,000 farmworkers are typically at risk of minor displacements due to seasonal hiring cycles and industry demand.

La Cooperative has a network of local partnerships in 36 counties and will use to the funds to equip participants with the tools, support, and skills they need to get new jobs in high-demand occupations.

Other services will include client-centered assessments, remedial education, vocational skills training, hands-on training, pre-apprenticeship training, work experience, and career pathway counseling.

Other services to address common employment barriers will also be offered, including access to food, housing utilities, medical, clothing, work tools, and transportation.