Blue Diamond to close historic Sacramento almond plant, shift operations to Central Valley
Blue Diamond Growers will be winding down operations and leaving its historic midtown Sacramento almond plant, the company announced Friday.
About 600 workers will be impacted by the closure, according to Blue Diamond.
In a statement from Blue Diamond Growers CEO Kai Bockmann, the challenges of running a plant from a historic facility were among the reasons cited for the impending closure.
"Our Sacramento team's work ethic and incredible drive have enabled us to build Blue Diamond into what it is today," Bockmann stated. "However, the challenges of running a plant from these historical buildings has become too costly and inefficient."
Most of Blue Diamond's operations will be transferred to the company's plants in Turlock and Salida. Blue Diamond stated that they'll be offering some workers the opportunity to work at the other facilities.
Blue Diamond said the move will start later in 2025 when about 10% of the Sacramento plant employees are expected to exit.
"Little bit shocking for everybody, ya know, very hard right now, ya know, finding another job," an employee said.
Blue Diamond's corporate headquarters will remain in Sacramento, the company said.
Down the line, Blue Diamond stated that they will be looking at selling the more than 50-acre Sacramento property for possible redevelopment.
Located at 16th and C streets, part of the building that the Blue Diamond campus currently occupies was added to the . Formerly California Packing Corporation Plant #11, the building was one of Sacramento's last operating canneries before closing in the early 1900s.
