FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — Fruit growers were among the most concerned after a storm swept through the area this week, according to Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen.
A helicopter was deployed shortly after Tuesday’s storm passed through cherry trees in Biola, west of Fresno.
Grower Stan Grosz said calling in a pilot to dry his trees was a familiar step.
“The Huey helicopter comes in, blows them off, it’s mostly about shaking them off and getting the water out of the crack by the stem,” Grosz said.
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Grosz said water sitting by the stem can cause cherries to crack, so he acted quickly after the storm.
“One time a year, we have to get the cherries off and get them to the market,” Grosz said.
He believes the effort helped save his crop.
Not all neighboring farmland fared as well. Jacobsen said damage was observed in a nearby almond orchard following the storm.
“We definitely see hail damage; the extent is not fully known, and we probably had some wind damage too,” Jacobsen said.
Drone footage from the area showed several almond trees uprooted from the ground, with gusty winds and hail causing the most damage. Jacobsen said some impacts are unavoidable.
“We try to deal with what mother nature gives us because we have to work hand in hand, it’s not something you work against and just try to make the most of it this upcoming year,” he said.
Even growers who escaped damage may still take preventive steps after the storm, Jacobsen said.
“Whether it’s almonds or grapes or a lot of these other crops, that can sustain water, you do have to come on the backside and put a fungicide because they are susceptible to mildew or fungus issues,” he said.
Despite the aftermath for some growers, Jacobsen said the storm also brought significant snowfall, which is expected to benefit summer agriculture.
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