FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Unseasonably warm temperatures are accelerating crop growth across the Valley, prompting an early start to the strawberry season and raising concerns for some cool-weather vegetables.
Growers say fields and orchards are already showing lush green colors, and flowers are emerging earlier than expected.
UC Small Farm Advisor Michael Yang says this year’s strawberry crop is running ahead of schedule.
“Usually, on April 10, you get the strawberry, but this week it’s like three weeks ahead. And so yeah, it’s weird,” Yang said.
Customers have been quick to take advantage of the early bounty at Kao’s Strawberry Stand at Shaw and Grantland in Northwest Fresno.
Owner Kao Saetern, who actually sells more vegetables than strawberries, says the sudden heat isn’t ideal for his winter crops.
“Looks like 90 but right now plants look very healthy. We don’t worry about it. We try to control the water a little bit,” Saetern said.
Yang says vegetables such as snap peas and several leafy greens could be impacted if temperatures continue to rise.
“These are cool-weather crops. This is snap peas,” Yang said, adding that vegetables like “the bok choy, gailon, uchoy. Some of those leafy vegetables. It needs the cool weather.”
Farmers have little choice but to adapt to shifting conditions and warmer temperatures can speed up plant development, for better or worse.
Saetern expects his winter vegetables to survive the current warm spell but acknowledges that the early heat could also bring an early end to some of his cool-weather crops.
By ABC 30’s Dale Yurong
