DELANO, Calif. — UPDATE (3:11 p.m.): In an emailed statement to 23ABC, John Zaninovich, VBZ’s President said “VBZ has been my family’s pride and joy for more than 80 years, but this restructuring is important to our future.”

The company said it is working to "make this restructuring as seamless as possible".

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Local grape farming company, Vincent B. Zaninovich & Sons, says that it is laying off over 500 employees.

In a letter to the Kern County Board of Supervisors on March 14, VBZ Grapes said that the company is downsizing its grape operations near Delano and within Tulare and Kern County. The positions that are being laid off range from tractor drivers and box makers to a Director of Payroll and Human Resources and a Director or Sales and Marketing.

In total, 542 employees are being laid off.

We have reached out to VBZ Grapes and are waiting for a statement from the company.