Over the years cherry growers have planted varieties of fruit, that ripen later, such as the Skeena and Lapins cherry. It was hoped that by doing this, harvest time would not coincide with the rains that typically fall in early July and often split the cherries. This year, that strategy has been trumped by Mother Nature. Local farmers say their crops have ripened 10 days to two weeks ahead of schedule. The evening before the harvest was about to begin in the Carlson’s orchard on Canyon View Road, the rains began to fall. A helicopter was brought in on Sunday morning to help dry the fruit. Erin Carlson of Carcajou Fruit said the fruit had not been damaged as a result of the rain.