Born in the Central Valley of California, Nikiko Masumoto spent her childhood slurping over-ripe peaches on the Masumoto Family Farm. She has never missed a harvest. Through leadership, art, and community involvement, she combines her passion for creative expression and storytelling with food, farming, and dreams for a just and equitable world. Masumoto has earned degrees from University of California, Berkeley and University of Texas, Austin, and she serves on the boards of the Alliance for California Traditional Arts and the Western States Art Federation.