Helicopters Over Coldstream

Choppers Race to Dry Cherry Crop After Lavington Rainfall

LAVINGTON, B.C. – August 1, 2025 : Helicopters were spotted flying low over cherry orchards in Lavington on Friday, using powerful rotor wash to blow rainwater off the fruit, a dramatic but time-tested method used by growers to save their crops from splitting after a summer downpour.

Cherry growers hire helicopters to hover just a few metres above the canopy, forcing rain off the cherries with downdraft before the moisture can be absorbed. Timing is critical.

To prevent this, growers hire helicopters to hover just a few metres above the canopy, forcing rain off the cherries with downdraft before the moisture can be absorbed. Timing is critical, damage can happen within hours, so drying begins as soon as the skies clear.

Though it can cost thousands of dollars per hour, growers say it's often the only way to protect the season’s crop. The method is common in British Columbia, Washington State, and even in parts of Europe and South America.

The sight of helicopters buzzing orchard rows may seem extreme, but in cherry country, it’s a sign that the fight to save the fruit is on.

If rain lasts more than a few hours, helicopters are grounded and the risk of fruit splitting increases. Growers may turn to wind machines or ground blowers, or resort to emergency picking to save what they can before the crop is lost.

Some cherry varieties (like Sweetheart or Skeena) are more crack-resistant, but no cultivar is immune after long, soaking rains.