Stemilt Ag Services LLC, a Wenatchee-based fruit packaging and distribution company, will lay off 1,561 workers beginning November 21, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed Tuesday.
The company specializes in packaging and shipping apples, pears, and cherries harvested from Washington orchards. Stemilt is known for its “World Famous Fruit” grown in high-elevation Washington orchards, primarily harvesting and distributing apples, pears, cherries, and stone fruits.
The WARN announcement did not specify reasons for the mass layoffs. The notification follows another large agricultural company layoff of over 1,300 workers from AgriMACS, Inc. in Chelan.
Separations begin November 21, 2025, according to the notification.
The Washington State Employment Security Department maintains a list of the latest WARN notifications on its website.
The layoffs reflect ongoing challenges facing Washington’s fruit industry, including labor costs, market conditions, and seasonal employment fluctuations. Washington ranks as the nation’s leading apple producer, with the fruit industry representing a significant portion of the state’s agricultural economy.
Large-scale agricultural layoffs typically occur during off-season periods when harvesting and packing operations slow. The timing of Stemilt’s November layoffs aligns with the end of harvest season for many fruit varieties.
The mass layoff adds to employment concerns in the Wenatchee Valley region, where fruit production and related industries represent major employment sectors. The combined Stemilt and AgriMACS layoffs affect nearly 3,000 workers in the region.
