
For Masumoto, the longer days of late spring mean more time to worry about crops and weather, funds and flavor. "My blood pressure rises with the temperature," he writes. "Each dark cloud on the horizon has my name written on it. We need rain but not too much; the orchards will love a cleansing shower, but that, in turn, will cause mildew to grow in the grapevines. I can't help but think of the worst and anticipate things will go wrong. It's part of my daily work ritual."
As harvest looms closer, farmers collect their apprehension in a "poker game of 'all in' and bank on their labor for success," the farmer foresees. Amid the ripe fruit that gives him purpose, Masumoto is concerned about the recession and market prices for his crops, discovering once again that "Farming requires sacrifices, most often of ourselves." (Read more).
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