WA fruit orchard company to layoff more than 1,500 seasonal workers

WENATCHEE, Wash. - A company specializing in the packaging and shipment of apples, pears and cherries harvested from Washington orchards is laying off more than 1,500 seasonal workers.

What we know:

According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) on Tuesday, 1,561 workers with Stemilt Ag Services LLC are being laid off.

Stemilt Growers tells FOX 13 the layoffs will only affect seasonal field staff with H-2A visas, as worker contracts are set to end with the harvest season. The company said warehouse and shipping employees will not be affected. 

Stemilt is based in Wenatchee, known for its "World Famous Fruit" grown in high-elevation orchards in Washington. They primarily harvest and distribute apples, pears, cherries and stone fruits.

Separations are set to begin on Nov. 21, 2025, according to the notification. Stemilt says it has notified the affected workers in advance of their contract end dates.

The WARN announcement follows another large layoff of over 1,300 workers from an agricultural company in Chelan, AgriMACS, Inc.

The Washington State Employment Security Department has a list of the latest WARN notifications on their website.

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