America is a vast, fertile land, incomparable for farming, but if forced to name one flaw, it would be the abundance of bugs. So you see them often and grow accustomed, but growing to like them is another matter entirely.
Wasn't that exactly what Chloe's expression was showing?
"Please... come to think of it, spraying pesticides might not be such a bad idea. Wouldn't things get better if we just sprayed moderately?"
"Of course you could. You don't need organic certification, and though the trees might suffer a bit, it's definitely the fastest method."
My overly ready agreement made Chloe hesitate instead.
"Huh? O-oh, really? Then should we do that?"
"Nothing wrong with that."
At this, Armando cut in.
"But if it were your farm, would you be using pesticides?"
"No."
When I shook my head firmly, Chloe asked with wide eyes.
"Why? You said I could do that."
"Because you want to."
"Then why wouldn't you do it?"
"I told you, the trees would suffer."
"......"
In Chloe's eyes, the question 'So what?' was vivid. How could her thoughts show so plainly on her face?
"To a farmer, every tree is like a child. I'm the same. The grapevines on my farm are all like children to me. You know trees each have different conditions, right?"
At my calm words, Chloe's gaze wavered.
"No..."
"Just because grapevines are on the same farm doesn't mean they're identical. Some can't absorb nutrients and water well; some are weak and wilt easily. Some have fruit flesh that isn't firm. Even when raised in the same place with the same methods, strangely, each tree is different. So you have to care for them one by one, each slightly differently. Some need various methods to absorb fertilizer better; others need careful pruning and management from when the fruit is still tiny. I'm sure the cherry trees on your farm are the same? But you wouldn't know, would you?"
Suddenly, Chloe's face flushed red. It shamed her—the daughter of a farm owner who was supposed to inherit a cherry farm—that she hadn't known such things.
"Yeah..."
"Since they grow fine no matter what you give them, could you feed your children anything too? Eating snacks or french fries from school lunches might not cause problems right away. But that's not proper food. I acknowledge that. But you're different from me. That's why I respect your choice."
While Chloe, face red, couldn't open her mouth, Armando tossed out another question.
"But how do you know that so well when you don't even have kids?"
That guy could be sharp in the most useless places sometimes.
"...... Just a guess...? That's how my mom and dad raised me."
"But in Korea, snacks and french fries aren't normal food?"
"Absolutely not... In Korea, you'd never serve those as meals. We call them snacks, not food."
Anyway, Chloe, having gathered her thoughts, looked me straight in the eye and spoke.
"I'll do it. That bug thing..."
"It might be pretty gross. You sure you're okay with that?"
When I asked with a smirk, Chloe nodded firmly.
"If it's something a farm owner has to do, I can do it too."
"Wow... you've got quite the ambition."
"Listen. This isn't because I want to take the farm, but because it's my dad's farm."
She spoke as if money had absolutely nothing to do with it, but looking at Chloe's wavering eyes, I got the feeling that wasn't entirely true. Well, I didn't let it show.
"Good. There are three of us here, so let's each take a task."
Jacob and Armando's faces stiffened.
"Do I have to touch bugs too?"
"Please..."
"If this works out, maybe Chloe will treat us to a big meal?"
The two men turned to Chloe simultaneously. She was flustered for a moment, then lifted her chin.
"Armando, if you help me, I'll set up a meal with Christina."
The moment Chloe finished speaking, Armando—a native Mexican—shook his head back and forth like a child mesmerized by candy.
"Of course I'll help."
"And Jacob, if you help me, I'll tell Mr. Miller that you actively helped us overcome the crisis when the danger occurred at our farm."
I had no idea what that meant, but Jacob smiled broadly as if he had never hated bugs.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks."
Was that really something to be thankful for?
When I stared blankly at Chloe, she shrugged and said.
"Jacob wants to get into a good school. If Mr. Miller writes a good recommendation, it'll help with his admission."
At that, I turned to Jacob and said with a look of renewed interest.
"So that's why you've been taking notes so diligently in your notebook?"
"Haha... I'm going to become a good farmer and help my dad. And of course, marry a pretty woman."
"I wasn't particularly curious about the latter part... Anyway, got it. I'll assign everyone a mission. Armando, go downtown and find a Grower Supply Store. They should carry packs of adult ladybugs or lacewing eggs in glass bottles or capsules."
"... This sounds exactly like buying game items."
"Exactly. In farming, bugs are basically a type of item. They probably don't keep a large stock, so buy everything they have."
"What about money?"
Instead of answering, I looked at Chloe, and she immediately pulled a card from her wallet and handed it to Armando.
"If you charge anything else, I'll kill you."
"Can I get one ice cream?"
"... That's okay."
"Good."
Then I looked at Jacob.
"You go downtown too and find the Extension Service—an agricultural education and support institution jointly operated by the USDA and state governments. Explain the situation and request five hundred ladybugs and five hundred lacewing eggs. It'll probably take about three days."
"Yeah, okay."
Then finally, I looked at Chloe.
"Contact the California Cherry Association and ask if they can provide ladybugs and lacewings. The Extension office might tell you to pick them up there, but anyway, that won't be enough, so ask the Cherry Association for additional support too."
"Okay."
It wasn't very difficult, so Chloe smiled brightly and nodded. But I smiled faintly and added one more thing.
"And..."
"Huh?"
"Ending this with just one phone call would be a shame. From now on, let's go out and catch bugs. Catching them barehanded will be complicated in many ways, so change into something comfortable and come out. Wear thin gloves. Thick gloves might kill the bugs. They're hard to catch, too."
Startled, Chloe shouted.
"You said we'd request them!"
"I told you, it takes at least three days. Adult ladybug packs can be used right away, but the other things take time to show proper effects. The best method is to catch adults and release them immediately."
"What about you?"
"Me?"
I snickered and said.
"I have to get back to my grape farm. I can't keep helping you forever."
"You're terrible!"
"Hey now! The greatest value is information. Without me, how would you have gotten this?"
"......"
"If you don't know what the bugs look like, ask the farm hands; they'll tell you. And they'll know better than me where to catch them, so try to catch as many as possible."
"How many?"
"Hmm~ probably enough to keep you busy all week?"
Seeing Chloe's face, which looked like she was about to cry, somehow made me pity her, so I patted her shoulder.
"You'll be fine. You'll get used to it as you catch them."
Leaving Chloe with eyes full of confusion,
"Let's go. I'll give you a ride."
I led my two friends to the car.
"So we don't have much to do today?"
"Seems like it."
Then,
"No! You two have to help me catch bugs."
For a moment, the two looked at me pleadingly, but I shook my head with a regretful expression.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... Let's go!"
And so I headed downtown with the two of them, shoulders slumped. I dropped Armando off in front of the Grower Supply Store and Jacob off in front of the Extension office. Jacob spoke with an anxious expression.
"What if I get lost inside?"
"... Okay, let's go in together."
Since it wasn't physical labor, I felt uneasy and had no choice but to enter the office building with him. In the spacious garden surrounding the building, various crops were planted experimentally, and several staff members were diligently tending to the plants.
When we entered, a middle-aged woman at the information desk greeted us with a smile.
"Hello, Extension Service. What help do our young men need today?"
When I stepped forward, the woman looked back and forth between Jacob and me with interest. I couldn't tell if it was because of Jacob's large build or because students visiting was a novelty.
"Hello. We've come to urgently request natural enemies for a cherry aphid infestation at a cherry farm. We need five hundred seven-spotted ladybugs and five hundred lacewing eggs."
"Oh, is that so? Would you wait a moment?"
As the middle-aged woman went inside, a dignified voice came from behind.
"Requesting ladybugs and lacewings for a cherry aphid problem?"
Jacob and I turned to see a man who looked to be in his late thirties to early forties standing in a suit—an outfit completely unsuited to the Extension Service center.
"Yes... and you are?"
The man looked at me with great interest and walked over.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Pierce Morgan."
"I'm Brian Choe."
I shook his hand in a daze.
"Do you run a cherry farm? Or are you a laborer?"
"My friend is the daughter of a cherry farm owner. I'm the son of a grape farm owner. And he's the son of a rice farm owner."
"Oh-ho, so these are the young talents who will lead American agriculture?"
Quite tall at about 190 centimeters, he bent down slightly to meet my eyes and asked.
"But how did you know that ladybugs and lacewings are natural enemies of cherry aphids?"
Before I could answer, Jacob pointed at me.
"He knew everything from the start. That's why he stopped us from spraying pesticides and said we should use natural enemies instead."
"Oh-ho, is that so?"
"But what do you do? Wearing a suit here?"
When I asked, he grinned.
"I'm from the USDA. I travel around regional offices, encouraging farm owners to adopt sustainable farming methods and new technologies."
"Ah—"
Good heavens, was Jacob my guardian angel? If I had just dropped him off and left, I would never have met this man. My eyes lit up.
"Do you happen to have an ID badge?"
"Hahaha, of course."
After looking at the badge he showed me, I smiled broadly and said.
"We're making vinegar from grapes, and it should be finished in about two months. Would it be alright if I sent you a bottle?"
"Vinegar, not wine?"
"Yes. Last year's harvest wasn't great, so we made vinegar instead of wine."
"Oh-ho, I see. I'm intrigued. Very well. Could you send it to the UC Davis Cooperative Extension? I'd love to taste it with the staff."
"I'll definitely send it! Please look forward to it."
Just then, the middle-aged woman who had gone inside came out, quickly scribbled something on a document, and tore it off.
"Come pick it up in three days."
"Thank you."
As I came out in high spirits, Jacob asked while getting into the car.
"But why did you say you'd give him vinegar?"
"You heard him earlier, right? He travels around regional offices encouraging farm owners to adopt sustainable farming methods and new technologies."
"Yeah."
"He's a Regional Agricultural Program Director under the USDA. In short, he's an enormously powerful figure in California agriculture! When farms come up for auction, he can ensure the USDA gets priority information; he has the authority to pre-select excellent farms or promising sites and provide related information; and he holds strong influence in regional festivals like the Table Grape Competition..."
Jacob, not fully understanding, blinked and asked.
"So, it's good to make a good impression?"
"...... Right. Exactly."
Sometimes I envy that simplicity.