KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Winter Storm Threatens Valley Crops, Others Welcome It

Winter Storm Threatens Valley Crops, Others Welcome It

By: Ashley Ritchie

It's a picture perfect winter wonderland for Tollhouse resident Rick Smith and his family.

"I think it's great it snowed near Christmas time. Who knows, this may be the closest we have to a white Christmas," Smith said.

Monday's wicked weather brought anywhere from three to five inches of snow to Smith's front yard.

"Usually about three times a year we get it at this elevation, which is about 2,000 feet," he said.

And being prepared is something the Smiths learned about years ago.

"20 years ago it snowed up here and there were about 15 cars stuck on the road and we were about the only ones who could get through with chains," Smith said.

"You have to be prepared. If you're gonna be in the citrus business, you've got to be prepared for frost," James McFarlane said.

At McFarlane Farms in Clovis, they know something about being prepared as well.

"If the orange is subjected to freezing temperatures for too long, the juice in essence will freeze. And the cells on the fruit will burst. And the juice will rot and then render the fruit inedible," McFarlane said.

To protect their crops from the freezing temperatures, farmers keep wind machines going to provide a warmer atmosphere for the oranges and keep the water running.

"We want to get that going as early as possible, get a whole mess of water out there in the orchard. It helps because it's pump water and it's gonna give off warmth," McFarlane said.

McFarlane says if the temperature gets down to 27 degrees, they have about two hours before the crop is threatened.

"In essence what we stand to lose is all the profit from this year's crop," he said.

So he'll be monitoring the weather all night, doing his best to protect the oranges.

Back in Tollhouse, the Smiths have a different take, and are doing their best to enjoy the scenery.

"The colder, the better. Bring the snow on," Smith said.

And it looks like the Smiths will get their wish, for much of this week.

All the while, McFarlane Farms will be on alert.

The Frank H. Ball Neighborhood Center is open from 8:30pm until 6:30am on nights when the temperature hits 36 degrees or below.

And it's the only warming center open here in Fresno.

City officials say the majority of people using the center are homeless and this location is easily accessible.