- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Harperone; 1st printing edition (May 2 1996)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0062510258
- ISBN-13: 978-0062510259
- Product Dimensions: 20.7 x 13.6 x 1.7 cm
- Shipping Weight: 227 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#383,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #69 in Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Organic Cooking
- #70 in Books > Science > Agricultural Sciences > Crop Science
- #70 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > Japanese
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
This is a peach of a book, as delectable as the Sun Crest peach Masumoto is struggling to save. It is a superior variety as to taste but has a short shelf life. The author, a third-generation farmer, gives an eloquent account of one year on his farm in the California desert. He notes that grape and tree fruit farmers are deprived of an annual rite that other farmers have?planting a new crop. Peach trees are planted every 15 to 20 years; grapevines, once in a lifetime. And, according to the author, a new planting is like having another child, requiring patience and sacrifice and a resounding optimism for the future. Masumoto's book reveals his commitment to the land and his family; it is also a cogent commentary on American agriculture.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
This book is a delightful narrative on the life of a Japanese American peach and grape farmer in the San Joaquin Valley near Del Rey, California. With poetic flair and a sense of humor, Masumoto offers his perspectives on the joys and frustrations of raising and tending peaches and grapes. He describes his relationship with the weeds and insects that invade his fields, the unpredictability of the weather, his desire to treat workers fairly, and the realities of the market structure. Reading about Masumoto's attempts to produce high-quality peaches and his fears that rain at the wrong time will destroy his drying grapes will be a truly educational experience for those not familiar with the complexities of farming. Masumoto observes with awe the diversity of nature over four seasons and his family's obligation to plan their lives around the seasons. Many books about family farms today present an image of economic and social distress, but this work portrays the positive aspects as told by a farmer who enjoys his work. Recommended for public libraries.?Irwin Weintraub, Rutgers Univ. Libs., Piscataway, N.J.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
The challenge begins in early spring with the first work of the year. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The challenge begins in early spring with the first work of the year. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Struggle Continues,
By A Customer
This review is from: Epitaph For Peach (Paperback)
I live somewhat north of the area Mr. Masumoto writes about - where the San Francisco Bay Area Suburbs collide with the San Joaquin Farmlands. The Peach and Cherry Orchards and the Sweet Corn, Tomatoes and Strawberries are currently holding their own - but like Mr. Masumoto's Peaches and Grapes, only tenuously, and with great courage. If you would like to understand not only how these people live, but who and why they are, you should read this book. It is both beautifully written and thought provoking.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Epitaph for a Peach,
By
This review is from: Epitaph For Peach (Paperback)
It is rare to read a book where the author works miracles with his hands and his words. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys non-fiction but finds it dry, without humanity. David Mas Masumoto is anything but dry. His land may be at times, but his poetic prose is anything but. His relationship with his family, his family's farm and nature is a rare combination. I highly recommend this read.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book about farming I've ever read,
By
This review is from: Epitaph For Peach (Paperback)
"Epitaph" is a gem and a masterpiece. Masumoto is a good farmer, a truly dedicated family man and a gifted writer. The story is in part about his love affair with a wonderful variety of peach. City people will know why supermarket peaches disappoint and country people will recognize the sad story of a farmer who, the harder he tries the more frustration he finds. The peaches you find in the supermarket are there because the consumer/supermarket/broker/ value "shelf life" more than flavor. Peaches don't travel well and they don't last long. The farmer must choose the right variety, prune it exactly the right way at exactly the right time, fertilize and water at the right time, pray fervently for the right weather conditions. Only then, if the peach absorbs enough sun to fully mature, will it have the full bursting ambrosial flavor a peach should have. Only the sun can make a peach sweet and flavorful. Most really delicious peaches won't last more than three or four days after they are picked. A good peach should be eaten as it is right out of hand. Not put in a pie or jam or cake. Only a good farmer can grow a perfect peach and no supermarket want them. Where is the answer? You'll fall in love with farming and weep a bit as you read the Masumoto family story. Perhaps you won't fully appreciate what today's farmers are up against, but this book will give you more insight than you ever had before. If you are from a farming family you will fully appreciate every word of this beautiful story of a San Joaquin Valley farm.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > Japanese
- Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Natural Foods
- Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Organic Cooking
- Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Special Diet > Healthy
- Books > Health, Mind & Body > Nutrition > Healthy Cooking
- Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Fruit
- Books > Home & Garden > Gardening & Horticulture > Techniques > Organic
- Books > Literature & Fiction > Canadian
- Books > Outdoors & Nature > Ecology
- Books > Science > Agricultural Sciences > Crop Science
- Books > Science > Nature & Ecology
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
