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Three individuals have been arrested for allegedly stealing cherries from farms in San Joaquin County, California. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office reported that deputies discovered the trio, identified as Ling Li, Jian Huang, and Wei Guo, in the act of picking cherries from an orchard near Waterloo and Fairchild roads, northeast of Stockton. The suspects reportedly collected about $2,000 worth of cherries and caused an additional $2,000 in damage to the orchard.
According to the Stocktonia News, the suspects were found with ledgers suggesting they had been stealing cherries from various orchards across the state and selling them at roadside fruit stands. The Sheriff's Office also confiscated thousands of dollars in cash and towed the suspects' vehicle. The three individuals face felony charges, including theft, conspiracy, and agricultural crimes.
The thefts come at a challenging time for cherry growers in the region. Due to last summer's extreme heat and other factors, the cherry crop has decreased by over 43%, prompting County Agricultural Commissioner Kamal Bagri to seek a "Cherry Disaster Declaration" from the state. Despite these difficulties, cherries remain one of the most valuable crops in San Joaquin County.
U.S. Representative Josh Harder announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would purchase $3 million worth of dried sweet cherries to support local growers. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office reminded the public that "crime doesn’t pay," especially when it involves stolen cherries.