Cherry growers in Marlborough are out in force this morning inspecting the damage from yesterday's heavy rain.

Peter Taylor from Ryland Estate cherry orchard said it was a case of keeping their fingers crossed that some of their crop has survived the rain, which can split fruit ready to harvest.

Another Marlborough owner, Terry Sowman, from Kiwi Cherries said it's not looking good.

"We are expecting to have a problem - but that's the name of the game. The cherries were late this year so we're just coming into our straps now, everything is coming ready at once and this is really what we don't want.

"Years ago people had insurance, but it got too expensive so nobody insures for a rain event now ... I have a section of my crop that's covered in plastic, so that will protect it to a big degree but again that's very expensive - that's probably my form of insurance."

Source - http://www.radionz.co.nz/