Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. Settlement
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Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. Settles for $850,000
In February 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) reached a settlement with Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. (Del Monte), with its principal location in Coral Gables, Florida, for Del Monte’s violations of CARB’s Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Auxiliary Diesel Engines Operated On Ocean-Going Vessels At Berth in a California Port (At-Berth Regulation), under California Code of Regulations, title 17, section 93118.3.
An investigation conducted by CARB staff documented that in 2021, Del Monte’s Port of Hueneme fleet failed to achieve the baseline power reduction requirements and the operational time limit requirements as specified in the At-Berth Regulation to reduce diesel PM and criteria pollutant emissions from ocean-going vessels. To settle the case, Del Monte agreed to a total settlement of $850,000, including the civil penalty of $1,000 per violation for 279 violations.
To settle the case, Del Monte agreed to the penalty of $139,500 to be deposited into CARB’s Air Pollution Control Fund, which provides funding for projects and research to improve California’s air quality. Del Monte agreed to fund two Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) in the amount of $139,500. Of this amount, $134,335 will fund the SEP entitled Air Purifier Distribution Program with San Diego County Air Pollution District, that distributes air filters to approximately 27,000 residences in the District affected by airborne pollutants coming from the Tijuana River; and $5,165 will fund the SEP entitled Woodworking Bus with Side Street Projects, to replace diesel powered busses used in the Woodworking Bus program that teaches tool-based design and fabrication to elementary students throughout Pasadena.
Terms of the settlement also require Del Monte to fund a Mitigation Project in the amount of $571,000 that will go toward alleviation of excess emissions in the Port Hueneme communities impacted by the violations. Del Monte is required to comply with all other CARB regulations going forward. Del Monte fully cooperated with CARB to resolve this matter.