Thank you for your applications! The application period for 2013 is now closed.

About the Program

Adopt an Organic Elberta Peach Tree and/or Organic Le Grand Nectarine Tree from the Masumoto Family Farm!

View a short video from the 2011 Peach Adoption Program

 

 

We farm a wonderful old heirloom peach called Elberta and a classic heirloom nectarine called Le Grand (both certified organic). Elberta is one of those old fashioned, creamy, buttery smooth peaches with a bright yellow flesh and a golden skin when ripe.

Some of you will remember the magical name – Elberta – memories of a family tree in the back yard or eating one a long time ago. These stories still echo in our orchards, flavors that shout out “family” and “memory”. Le Grand has been called the “granddaddy of nectarines” – with a sexy nectarine flavor that blends both high acid and high sugar in a luscious combination of flavors. The flavor screams out joy. Friends have told me Elberta Peaches have a rich, deep flavor you take home to meet your parents—Le Grand Nectarines have a wild taste, you have an affair with these gems.

So how can you get a taste of these treasures? By adopting a tree! You can adopt either an Elberta or Le Grand and if you’re hungry enough (or have hungry friends) you can adopt both. If the weather and nature cooperates, each tree should have between 350-450 pounds of these peach and/or nectarine gems!

Personalized Produce

• One of our goals is to personalize our produce. It’s not about production and the exchange of peaches for money; we believe in the soul of food, the art of farming, and the stories that link our family and produce with you. We take this personally – and want consumers, peach/nectarine lovers, and food enthusiasts to share our passion. And here’s an opportunity for you to come harvest your own peaches and share the farmer’s dilemmas, challenges and rewards.
• By adopting a tree, these Elbertas and/or Le Grands will be yours for a year of gestation. We, at the Masumoto farm, will take care of the early work of pruning, irrigating and pest control. We utilize only organic practices, adopting the best natural practices (by the way, the entire farm is certified organic).
• However, the most critical time will be your responsibility: HARVEST TIME.

 Adopt A Lifestyle, Harvest Like A Farmer

Your tree will be waiting for you – and you will be kept abreast of how your peaches and/or nectarines are doing.

Like most natural arrivals, delivery date (harvest) cannot be predetermined nor scheduled. In the past Elberta and Le Grand harvest delivery dates have ranged from the last Saturday in July to the second Saturday in August. This is very much like giving birth naturally (we don’t schedule Cesarean peaches or nectarines on our farm)!

You and your team will come to the Masumoto farm and hand harvest your own peaches and nectarines.

For two consecutive Saturdays your team will come to the farm, select and pick ripe, over ripe and ripening fruit from your tree. Then the peaches and/or nectarines are your babies to enjoy, care for, and use however you desire. This is a real farm, so we can only estimate EACH tree will produce between 350-450 pounds of luscious peaches and/or nectarines.

We suggest you adopt a tree with others – extended family, neighbors, friends or coworkers. A group or an organization can adopt a tree and send a small work crew to come harvest! We will provide ladders and picking boxes – you’ll need to provide the personal touch.

 A Note About Harvest

• About a month before, we will schedule two consecutive SATURDAYS for delivery dates – in late July and/or early August. We cannot predict the exact dates in advance, and will only be able to provide a few weeks notice (this is about working with nature).
• Harvesting will start early in the morning (about 7:30am) and must finish by late morning (it can be terribly hot in Fresno – 100 degree days are common) – and you and your team will be responsible for all the work. We will have an orientation session to teach everyone how to harvest.
• You will harvest on two Saturdays because of the nature of the fruit: not all of them will ripen at the same time. When you come pick on the first Saturday, some fruit will be very ripe (ready to eat on the spot), some ready to eat in a few days after picking, and the rest will wait for the next harvest day. So prepare for a variety of fruit – peaches and/or nectarines you’ll eat or give away that day or bake and prepare a few days later… welcome to the life of a farmer.
• Please note: the LeGrand tend to ripen slightly ahead of Elbertas – in other words you’ll probably be harvesting more LeGrands on the first Saturday than the second.
• By the way, you can always split the harvest days with others on your team – some taking the first Saturday and others the second. But please do not abandon your babies! Your team will be responsible for harvesting your babies on BOTH Saturdays.

 About Our Family Farm:

• The Masumoto Family Farm is located a few miles southeast of Fresno, California. By car it takes about 3-4 hours from San Francisco or Los Angeles – so make your harvest day plans accordingly.
• We will be open for harvest ONLY on the specified days. This is a working farm!
• The Masumoto Family has lived on and farmed this land for three generations. The farm has been certified organic for 20 years.

How It Works:

1. Complete and submit the adoption application. Watch for it to be posted online shortly after the first of each year. The sooner you apply, the better. Remember, we take this very personally, that’s how we farm, how we work, so please only apply if you are committed. You may adopt an Elberta peach, a Le Grand nectarine, or both.
2. The Masumoto family personally reviews all applications and works hard to match loving adoption applicants with each Elberta and/or Le Grand tree; however, we can only accept a limited number.
3. If accepted, your team leader will be notified sometime in March and given detailed information about payment and adoption logistics. The adoption fee is $600 per tree or $1,200 if you adopt both.
4. YOU WILL BE DOING THE HARVESTING and will keep all your organic peaches and/or nectarines (approximately 350-450 pounds or more per tree – all dependent on nature and the weather).
5. We will keep you informed via e-mail about your peaches and/or nectarines  from bloom to projected “delivery dates;” but be aware, the date may NOT be finalized until a few weeks prior to arrival. It’s like the delivery of a baby – and a natural birth, no?
6. It is your responsibility to read all e-mail notifications and share the information with your team.

GIVE PEACH A CHANCE!

Masumoto Family Farm
Mas, Marcy, Nikiko and Korio