He means if the temperature drops to 28 degrees, buds begin to die on soft fruit trees such as cherries and nectarines. Cold hurts apple buds when it reaches about 26. He hadn't slept much most of the week as he stood guard over his orchards. We've skated by the frost so far - knock on wood. McBride, who manages View Orchards in Finley, was in much the same condition.
Farmers watch thermometers intently, beginning about midnight.
A drop of a single degree can mean disaster. On chilly nights, McBride has 10 workers on hand, sleeping in their cars or in the shop. They're on call. McBride's crew can light all 2,000 smudge pots at View Orchards in about an hour, protecting buds and blossoms with heat and smoke. That's the good news.