STOCKTON, Calif. — Paul Sanguinetti has seen it all when it comes to being a farmer. The fourth-generation Stockton grower has seen September rain before and knows it's not good.
"We'll have to see what this weather does. What I'm saying is we get the wind, maybe it doesn't get too hot and they dry off and maybe we'll be OK," said Sanguinetti.
Sanguinetti and his two sons grow 300 acres of cannery tomatoes used for ketchup, pasta sauce and more. He also grows walnuts. Harvest began a couple of days ago and will continue until close to the end of October. Until it's over, he has to keep an eye towards the sky at times.
"Rain has a tendency to mold the tomatoes," Sanguinetti said.
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Many other crops this time of year are also prone to damage from ill-timed weather. One major crop is the wine grape.
The Lodi Grape Growers Association says 40 percent of the grapes have been harvested, so there is always a chance bad weather could do damage. In this case, Stuart Spencer, executive director of the Grape Growers, said not much rain fell around Lodi and it was "spotty."
Bruce Blodgett with the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation said a number of crops could sustain some damage this time of year.
"Water is moisture. You have mold, those types of issues, so you can get some spoilage," explained Blodgett. "Almonds stand to be impacted. Alfalfa hay that's on the ground will be impacted. A whole host of things."
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