Photo: Raising temps to protect cherries

Thu., March 5, 2015

Overnight ordeal: Luis Chavez, left, and Jose Gracia ignite a bonfire early Wednesday to protect cherry buds at Rancho El Rosario west of Prosser, Wash. Gracia, the orchard manager, started his work about 8:30 p.m. the night before. In all, he used 63 bonfires, 280 diesel furnaces and eight wind machines to raise the temperature in the orchard. Temperatures dipped below 20 degrees by dawn in several places throughout Yakima and Benton counties, including the area between Mabton and Prosser.

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