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Hawaii’s Maui LandandPineapple to end operations after 97 years

Posted at 23:22 on 04 November, 2009 UTC

Hawaii’s Maui Land & Pineapple Corporation is to cease pineapple operations by the end of the year.

The company says it plans to lay off more than 45 percent of staff amid a companywide restructuring that repositions subsidiary Kapalua Land Corporation.

The company, which employs 624 people, said up to 133 employees will be offered jobs at partner companies while up to 285 employees will be laid off, primarily at Maui Pineapple Corporation.

The Honolulu Star Bulletin reports MLP’s decision to end operations after 97 years on Maui - leaves only Dole as the state’s last major pineapple producer.

The company has lost more than $172 million US dollars since the start of 2008.