Busy harvest before storm rolls in

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- After three years of drought, Valley farmers looked forward to the incoming storm.

The ominous looking clouds in the distance were a welcome sight. Before the system arrived though crews had time to harvest.

David Sarabian brought in extra workers to pick leafy vegetables. The Fresno farmer said it was important to take advantage of the dry conditions.

Sarabian explained, "We're harvesting Napa cabbage and Shanghai bok choy. We're just trying to pick before the rain because we know we're not going to be able to pick for the next three or four days so we're just trying to get some in the cooler so we have it though the storm."

Sarabian said the rain will help fill out his Taiwan cabbage - a large, flatter variety.

Crews won't be able to pick once the skies open up because the fields will be too muddy for both workers and tractors.

Sarabian said, "We're kind of concerned about how much volume we might get and there could be damage done to some crops if it gets too windy or if it rains too hard where it could break the stems but we just have to take what we get."

Farmers said the chance to soak the soil and pad the Sierra snowpack far out-weighs any negatives the rain might bring.