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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 gave 29 days' notice, short of the 60 the law requires; the Oct. 30 layoff date has passed without public confirmation

October 30th, 2026: Scheduled layoff date passes

Overview

Updated Oct 24

Baloian Farms told California regulators on October 1 that it would lay off 106 workers at 446 N. Blythe Ave. in Fresno, with the last day of work set for October 30. The filing gave 29 days of notice, short of the 60 days federal law requires for a mass layoff. No public filing or news report since has confirmed whether the layoff took effect or whether the company recalled workers.

The company called the layoff temporary. As of late October, its notice was one of three active WARN filings in Fresno County covering 308 workers; the largest, Tomatek's layoff of 116, takes effect December 14.

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' facility at 446 N. Blythe Ave. in Fresno.
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.
308
Workers in active Fresno County WARN filings
Across three filings: Tomatek (116), Baloian Farms (106) and Maya Cinemas Fresno 16 (86).

Voices

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People Involved

JL
Jeremy Lane
Vice president of sales and marketing, Baloian Farms
Has not commented publicly on the layoff

Organizations Involved

Baloian Farms
Baloian Farms
Agricultural producer and packer
Filed WARN notice for 106 workers; layoff was scheduled for Oct. 30, 2026; outcome not reported

Family-owned Fresno produce company that grows and packs peppers, onions, and other vegetables.
California Employment Development Department
California Employment Development Department
State agency
Publishes WARN Act notices

California agency that administers unemployment insurance and publishes WARN Act layoff notices.

Timeline

2 events Latest: October 30th, 2026 · 1 week ago

  1. Scheduled layoff date passes

    Latest Scheduled event

    The layoff was scheduled for this date. The outcome was not reported in public filings or news as of Nov. 5.

  2. Baloian Farms files WARN notice for 106 workers

    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

(9)
+3
California Employment Development Department Baloian Farms San Joaquin Valley Sun Today's Layoffs CaliforniaWarn The Fresno Bee Perishable News WARN Tracker Baloian Farms