Last month we went to Masumoto Family Farm to pick nectarine and peaches straight from the tree. I loved the idea of visiting a farm and slowing down a bit. It was such a wonderful experience and left me with stone fruit for weeks! Let me share the experience leading up to harvesting day and what harvesting day was actually like.
If you've ever wondered what it's actually like to participate in the Masumoto Family Farm Adopt-A-Tree program, here's a look at the experience, from the application process to waiting for harvest weekend to picking the fruit and bringing it home.
Our nectarine tree
About the Adopt-a-Tree Program
The Masumoto family has run the Adopt-A-Tree program for more than 20 years at their farm in Del Rey, California, about 20 miles south of Fresno. The program gives people the opportunity to harvest their own organic stone fruit while supporting the family farm.
The farm has seen changes in ripening patterns and yields over the years due to climate change. Because of that uncertainty, this year's program offered adopters the opportunity to pick both Le Grand nectarines and Elberta peaches. The number of trees available and the eventual amount of fruit depended on the harvest.
There were two levels of adoption:
Junior Adopt-A-Tree: $950 — aiming for approximately 250–300 total pounds of fruit
Senior Adopt-A-Tree: $1,750 — aiming for approximately 500–600 total pounds of fruit
When you sign up, you're asked to keep several dates open in late July and early August. The farm lets you know in early July which weekends will be the harvest weekends depending on when the fruit is ready.
Your team visits the farm on Saturday or Sunday during two consecutive weekends to harvest the fruit, and each team can consist of up to six people each weekend.
We were told that harvesting would take place during the last two weekends of July, so our team chose to attend on Sundays, July 19 and July 26.
The path leading to the rows of fruit trees
Arriving at the Farm
We had to be at Masumoto Family Farm bright and early between 7 and 8 AM. Since the farm is more than three hours from our home, we decided to drive to Fresno on Saturday and stay overnight. That meant we could get a good night's sleep and be ready for Sunday morning's picking.
The farm was easy to find using Google Maps. As we got closer, we drove past lots of other farms. When we saw a line of cars and a sign that said "Adopt-A-Tree," we knew we were in the right place.
The family welcomed each car as we arrived, and we parked nearby. The orchard was just a short walk away.
Masumoto Family Farm map
Some people arrived as early as 7 AM and started picking fruit before the official welcome at 8:15. This is completely allowed, and it made sense to start as early as possible because the temperature rose quickly.
Around 8:15, everyone gathered for an introduction and welcome from the Masumoto family. This year, Nikiko Masumoto even read a poem that had been submitted by one of the applicants, which was a lovely way to begin the morning.
Each team was also given a box of Baby Crawford peaches that had been harvested earlier and kept refrigerated for us. Then we were free to head out and start picking.
Meeting Our Trees & Picking the Fruit
Finding our trees was easy. We were given a map with an X marking our designated trees, and the trees themselves were labeled with our team name, The Ripe Stuff.
The map to our trees
We were assigned one peach tree and three nectarine trees.
Before we started picking, the family taught us how to tell when the fruit was ready. One of the things they emphasized was looking past the reddish color on the outside of the fruit and checking the underlying color of the skin. If that was still green or gray, the fruit wasn't ready to pick.
Another way to tell is by how easily the fruit comes off the tree. If it's ripe, it should come off with just a little movement rather than requiring you to pull hard.
And then we started picking.
I couldn't believe how much fruit was on each tree. Our peach tree was overflowing, with many of the peaches already ripe. There were peaches that had fallen to the ground. I could smell their sweetness and the beginnings of fermentation from some of the overripe ones.
At one point, I picked a peach straight from the tree, gave it a quick wash with some water, and happily started eating it. It was so sweet!
There's something pretty special about eating a piece of fruit while standing underneath the tree it came from.
We probably spent about one to two hours picking fruit from all of our trees. Since I went during the first weekend, we wanted to leave some fruit to be picked the second weekend. Otherwise, I probably would have stayed longer and picked even more!
A close up of our peach tree
More Than Just Fruit Picking
After we finished picking, the family provided a small brunch for everyone. We had a nectarine salad and a peach popsicle, which was especially nice after spending the morning outside in the heat.
There was also time to talk with the family and learn more about the farm. Dr. Marcy Masumoto, one of the farm's co-owners, came over to our table during lunch and talked with us about the farm.
The family also had a farm stand where you could purchase things like peach, nectarine, and apricot jams, along with books and T-shirts.
It made the day feel like more than simply showing up, picking fruit, and leaving with boxes. There was a real opportunity to learn about the farm, meet the Masumoto family, and spend some time appreciating the work that goes into growing the trees.
My brunch plate
What We Brought Home
Our family picked about eight to ten flat boxes of fruit in total. We brought home about four boxes - two boxes of peaches, one box of nectarines, and some of the Baby Crawford peaches.
I could have taken more, but I knew we wouldn't be able to eat it all. We only have so much refrigerator space and it was just my husband and me eating it.
Some participants in the program had plans to make jam, bake pies, or freeze their fruit. I didn't have any elaborate plans. I just wanted to eat it fresh.
I brought a box to work the next day to share with my coworkers, and my husband and I worked our way through the rest over the next two weeks.
While all of the fruit was good, the Le Grand nectarines were my favorite. They were incredibly sweet and rich in flavor. I honestly couldn't believe how delicious they were.
Homemade jam for sale
Tips for Future Visitors
If you adopt a tree in the future, here are some tips that may help make for a better experience:
1 | Wear long pants, a hat, and closed-toe shoes.
You're going to get dusty. You, your clothes, and your car will get dusty.
I'd recommend wearing clothes that cover your skin and protect you from both the sun and the dust. I wore lightweight long sleeves and sunscreen.
And don't wear anything you really care about keeping clean!
2 | Arrive early if you can
You can start arriving at 7 AM. Many experienced participants arrived at 7 AM and started picking the fruit right away. The sun gets strong very quickly, and I was already sweating by 9 or 10 AM.
The earlier you can get your picking done, the more pleasant the experience will be.
3 | Bring a few extra supplies
Some people brought folding tables so they could keep their fruit boxes off the dirt and avoid repeatedly bending down. A tarp would work too.
I wish I had put a tarp or some other protective covering in the trunk of my car. The boxes and fruit get dusty and dirty. I would have preferred not to have that dirt spread in my car.
A marker or Sharpie is also helpful for labeling your boxes. Once the boxes are closed, you can't see what's inside. You might want to label them by fruit or note which box contains nicer fruit versus rejects or ripe fruit that needs to be eaten soon.
The farm provides the buckets, ladders, and boxes you might need for picking and packaging.
Boxes and ladders are provided
Was It Worth It?
Picking fruit at Masumoto Family Farm was a memorable experience. I'd never picked stone fruit before, so the whole thing was new and exciting to me.
Would I recommend adopting a tree? I think it really depends on what you're looking for.
It's worth it if...
You want a unique fruit-picking experience. If you enjoy learning about farms, researching the history of the family and farm, and being part of an annual tradition, there's a lot to appreciate by being a part of it.
You don't mind making two weekends out of it. For us, it was a family experience rather than simply a fruit-picking trip. We enjoyed having something to do together and making memories along the way.
We even made a little road trip out of it, stopping at Casa de Fruta, a family-friendly roadside attraction, on our drive to Fresno.
You appreciate the experience as much as the fruit. The cost of adopting a tree isn't really about getting inexpensive peaches and nectarines. You're paying for the experience of participating in the farm, learning about where your food comes from, and being part of something that's been happening at Masumoto Family Farm for more than 20 years.
It's probably not worth it if...
You simply want sweet fruit. The cost of adopting a tree is not insignificant. Where I live, I can go to the farmers market or produce store 10 minutes from my house and buy stone fruit for much less than the cost of the adoption. This past weekend, I saw peaches and nectarines for $2.99 a pound. And the fruit at the produce store is just as sweet as those off the tree.
You don't like hot weather. It gets hot quickly. I was sweaty and sticky by the time we left the farm before noon.
You don't like bugs. You're picking fruit in an orchard. There will be bugs!
You're looking to save money on fruit. If you're just looking for a way to get a lot of peaches and nectarines, there are certainly cheaper ways to do that. You’re better off going to your nearby farmers market rather than adopting a tree.
I would do it again if my family wants to next year. I wasn’t the one who applied for the tree and made all the arrangements, so I had an easy role just picking the fruit. But if they invite me again next year, I’ll gladly join again knowing what to expect now.
One of the family’s dogs
More Than a Box of Peaches
One of the things I liked most about this experience was that it reminded me of what plenty is.
Standing beside a peach tree bursting with fruit, there were more peaches that I could possibly eat. Fruit on the branches, in our boxes, and on the ground. I see lots of fruit at the produce market, but I was a bit overwhelmed seeing that abundance firsthand all on one tree.
I came home with boxes of peaches and nectarines and a greater appreciation for the uncertainty and work involved in growing food.
Maybe that's what made the Adopt-A-Tree experience so wonderful. For one weekend, I got to slow down, get a little dusty, eat fruit straight from a tree, spend time with my family, and experience what plenty looks like growing right in front of me.