Helicopters are used in cherry farming to dry cherries after it rains so they don’t soak in too much water and explode
Helicopters are busy today in the Huon Valley helping orchardists save the remaining cherry crops after a severe rain event.
Farmers in southern Tasmania are assessing damage to fruit crops following heavy rain, and believe up to 70 per cent of remaining cherry crops could be affected..
Parts of the Huon Valley received more than 70 millimetres in the deluge on Tuesday night, which hit cherry growing areas at the wrong time.
Cherry growers in the Huon Valley say up to 70 per cent of the remaining fruit could have been damaged in Tuesday night's downpour. ( ABC News )
Howard Hansen, from Hansen Orchards, was due to start picking fruit this week, but said the rain has damaged the majority of his crop.
This morning a helicopter was used to get water off the cherries, and down the road at Lucaston Park it was a similar story.
Matthew Griggs called in a helicopter at first light to hover above the cherry trees and keep them dry.
"We still have around 80 tonnes to pick and many of the cherries left on the trees have split because of the rain," Mr Griggs said.
Mr Hansen said the rain was good for the upcoming apple harvest, but would not make up for the damage to the cherries.
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