Central Coast farm growers welcome this week’s rain

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - This week's rainfall is good news for farm growers throughout the central coast valley.

Farm grower Tom Ikeda loves this week's rainfall.

“The rain in general is good for all crops because it helps the salts under the soil which inhibit the growth and could cause problems in the summertime,” said Ikeda.

After years of surviving the drought across the state of California, the rain will add to the groundwater supply most farmers use to grow their crops.

Plus it will make strawberries sweeter.

“Rain is pretty much always welcome. We live in California. A drought is around the corner all the time,” said Ikeda.

Ikeda said while too much water can damage the plants quickly, too little water is just as harmful, as dry soil stresses the plants resulting in reduced growth and less yield.

But overall, Ikeda said the rain is helping his crops, and he hopes the rain won't end just yet.

“My hope is that this isn't going to be it for the year. That it's just the start,” said Ikeda.

“I love the wet weather. I'm so glad it's coming in. It helps everything,” said Merritt Ward, who came by Ikeda's produce stand to buy some strawberries.