The Bookworm: Epitaph for a Peach

The Bookworm: reading the best and weeding the rest

A REVIEW BY LEEANNA TATUM OF EPITAPH FOR A PEACH BY DAVID MAS MASUMOTO.

David Mas Masumoto, a third-generation Japanese American peach and grape farmer in California, describes a pivotal four seasons on his family farm in this charming and descriptive book.

Masumoto attended college with no intention of returning to his family’s farm, yet he found himself drawn back to the home and farm of his youth. Years later, after taking over the family farm, he discovered that there was no longer a market for his beloved Sun Crest peaches which had excellent flavor, but a short shelf-life and lacked the red color consumers had grown to expect in a peach.

Epitaph for a Peach takes readers through a journey of discovery about changing marketplaces and one farmers desire to move away from conventional methods of farming to work with nature rather than against it.

Masumoto’s lyrical composition is a pleasure to read. Whether you grew up on a farm, are currently farming or just enjoy learning more about what it takes to put food on the table, this book is a refreshing and engaging peek into the inner workings of one family farm.