Cherries in San Joaquin County are about 10 days away from picking.
Cherries are the fourth leading commodity in the county worth over $100 million.
Tom Gotelli of O-G Packing in Stockton says rain at this time can ruin the fruit still on the trees.
“The cherry absorbs the water and they get bigger and they split and we can’t send them to market,” Gotelli says.
The rain can also do damage to valley vineyards which are close to bloom.
According to Craig Rous of Bear Creek Winery in Lodi, rain during that critical bloom period can prevent pollination resulting in a smaller crop.
“For some varieties it could be already starting like Chardonnay and Sauvignon and so yeah it could be very bad for that,” Rous says.
Growers hope if rain does come that light winds and mild weather follow so that the crops can dry out.
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