Reaping What She Sows: How Women Are Rebuilding Our Broken Food System -- Nancy Matsumoto, Hardcover

A James Beard Award winner celebrates the women heroes who are fighting against the Big Food system--and asks the question: How should we eat?

When the Covid-19 pandemic ripped through global food supply chains, it threatened the livelihoods of farmers, created shortages in supermarkets, and revealed a startling truth to consumers: the food system is broken, and large corporations did the breaking. An idea began to take hold-what if we could return to a time when our needs were met by the farmers in our own communities, rather than a commodity, Big Food system that favors profit above all else?

With in-depth, on the ground reporting, Nancy Matsumoto introduces readers to the women changemakers who are building out local and regional supply chains to combat the destructive effects of Big Food: from the founder of a women-led rice cooperative who is fighting Black land loss, to the Indigenous women who own and operate the first kelp hatchery on the American east coast, and more.

Reaping What She Sows offers a blueprint for what eating enjoyably, sustainably, and ethically looks like today. Essential for those who are concerned about climate change, their own health, and the lack of choice and transparency in the global food supply chain.

Author: Nancy Matsumoto
Publisher: Melville House Publishing
Published: 10/28/2025
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
ISBN: 9781685892036

About the Author
Nancy Matsumoto is a Toronto- and New York City-based writer and editor who covers food, agriculture, and the environment. With Michael Tremblay, she is the author of the book Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: Rice, Water, Earth, which won a James Beard Media Award. Her articles have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Saveur, Food & Wine, and Civil Eats.