YAKIMA, Wash. – Congdon Packing Company announced on Monday their plans for a mass layoff that will terminate approximately 102 employees by April 15.
The announcement was made under the Washington State WARN Act, and in compliance with the Securing Timely Notification and Benefits for Laid-Off Employees Act.
In a notice sent to the Employment Security Department, Pamela Tabert, HR Office Manager at Congdon Packing Company, said that the layoffs will not involve relocation or outsourcing. She also noted that the affected employees are not represented by a union.
Congdon Orchards President Adam Steffes released the following statement:
“The classification as “permanent” reflects the duration of the layoff exceeding 30 days. It is important to note that this does not impact all employees; the notice primarily applies to seasonal team members who work on the pear packing lines.
This reporting is part of updated state requirements under the WARN notification process that took effect last fall. While the reporting requirement is new, the seasonal nature of our operations is not new to our employees.
As a pear-only packing facility, our production cycle follows the pear harvest and storage season. Pears are typically packed for approximately eight to ten months each year, depending on crop conditions and regional supply. In previous years, when we also packed cherries and apples, operations extended longer and did not require this type of reporting.
Currently, our standard operating season runs from August 1 through April. We remain committed to our employees, growers, and community, and we look forward to continuing operations with the upcoming season.
This article was updated on February 12, 2026 at 1:41 p.m. to clarify information from a notice sent to the Employment Security Department.
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