Blue Diamond Growers announced on Friday that it will be closing its historic almond factory in midtown Sacramento and ceasing operations.
Blue Diamond estimates that the shutdown will affect about 600 jobs.
The difficulties of operating a plant out of a historic building were one of the reasons given for the upcoming closure in a statement released by Kai Bockmann, CEO of Blue Diamond Growers.
“Our Sacramento team’s work ethic and incredible drive have enabled us to build Blue Diamond into what it is today,” Bockmann said. “However, the challenges of running a plant from these historical buildings has become too costly and inefficient.”
The majority of Blue Diamond’s activities will be moved to its Salida and Turlock factories. According to Blue Diamond, some employees will have the chance to work at the other locations.
According to Blue Diamond, the transition will begin later in 2025, when roughly 10% of the Sacramento plant’s workforce is anticipated to leave.
“Little bit shocking for everybody, ya know, very hard right now, ya know, finding another job,” an employee stated.
According to the corporation, Blue Diamond will continue to have its corporate headquarters in Sacramento.
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In the future, Blue Diamond said, they will consider selling the over 50-acre Sacramento property in order to potentially redevelop it.
In 1984, a portion of the structure that now houses the Blue Diamond campus—located at 16th and C streets—was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Before closing in the early 1900s, the structure—once known as California Packing Corporation Plant #11—was among the last canneries in Sacramento to remain in operation.
