It was certainly a reasonable point, but even so, Frederick was not the kind of man who could simply leap at it without thinking.
“There’ll be a difference in price, though... Can we get something for around the same amount?”
“I asked an agricultural land broker on my way here.”
“You did? As expected, you’re thorough.”
“If the price itself didn’t work, I wouldn’t be able to suggest it to you. Anyway, when I asked, they said walnuts are already such a common crop in California that they’re actually traded quite frequently. A hundred acres goes for anywhere from 2.3 to 2.7 million dollars.”
“Hmm... That’s not too far from what I had in mind. What about almonds?”
“They said almonds aren’t quite as common as walnuts, but since they’re still an established crop in California, you can buy as much as you want if you look. The price can be a little higher than walnuts, but if you want something cheaper, they can show you orchards with aging trees or farms that are reaching the point of generational replacement. In that case, it could be anywhere from 2 to 2.5 million dollars. If it’s bare farmland for new planting, they said around 1.5 million dollars per hundred acres is possible.”
“What do you think?”
“If it were me, I’d look for a farm that can be harvested right away. But that’s only possible because it’s me.”
When I said that with a slightly embarrassed expression, Frederick gave a wry smile.
“Well, if it’s you, I suppose that’s true.”
I said it because I was confident that even after taking over a farm, I could find the optimal methods and maintain both yield and quality, and Frederick understood that immediately. Conversely, if Brandon were to take over a farm, could he maintain yield and quality without making any mistakes?
There was no way to be certain. No, the chances were far higher that he would fail.
“You’re saying it would be better for Brandon to buy an orchard with aging trees or one undergoing generational replacement?”
“Walnut farming and almond farming may both be nut crops, but the cultivation methods are very different. It won’t be easy.”
When I said firmly that it would not be easy, Frederick’s expression darkened as well.
“I’ve never grown almonds myself, so I don’t really know. Is it that difficult?”
“Mm... If walnut farming is a kind of management-based farming, then almonds should be seen as corporate-style farming.”
“What does that mean?”
“Walnut trees basically have deep, strong roots, so they absorb water well. They also require a lot of water, but the advantage is that their demand is consistent, with clear patterns.”
In other words, as long as one learned the existing patterns, the difficulty of farming them was not particularly high. Of course, that absolutely did not mean farming was easy. Brandon, who had lost an entire year’s crop to pests and disease, was a prime example of that.
Even so, compared to almonds, walnuts were relatively simple.
“And almonds are corporate-style?”
“The roots themselves are shallow and delicate. That makes them sensitive to moisture fluctuations, so they require concentrated watering during flowering and fruit set. Walnuts are relatively insensitive to water stress, but almonds are different. If you mishandle moisture control even slightly, the flowers and fruit drop immediately.”
“Ah... They’re delicate little things.”
“Exactly. That’s why, like running a company, you need clear processes and the ability to respond to crises.”
“So it requires long experience?”
“Experience and knowledge.”
“Hmm...”
At the realization that it would not be easy farming, Frederick folded his arms and nodded.
“And what else?”
“The pollination mechanism is different too. Walnuts are wind-pollinated, so there isn’t much to consider in that regard. But almonds have to be pollinated by bees, so if bee activity slows down, fruit set fails. There’s a lot you need to know.”
“Brandon’s going to suffer.”
“Hehe, that’s right. He’ll have a pretty hard time.”
“And yet you’re saying there are advantages?”
“Of course. Basically, walnuts have a high fat content, so if stored too long, there’s a risk of rancidity. In reality, they’re mostly consumed domestically. On top of that, they’re centered around bread and dessert ingredients, with a high dependence on processing. Almonds, on the other hand, can clearly take the lead in the export market.”
Frederick, to whom this was not unfamiliar, frowned slightly and said,
“Yes, I’ve heard almonds are exported a lot.”
“Almond exports will only keep growing from here. That means compared to walnuts, which are consumed mostly within the domestic market, their price range will climb much higher.”
In fact, before my regression, walnut prices had shown an average annual growth rate of 4 to 5 percent over ten years, while almonds had shown 12 to 15 percent. The reason I knew so much about almonds was that before my regression, I had once conducted research at Cornell University on the growth of almond exports.
Moreover, almonds were a core ingredient in the global plant-based protein and alternative food markets, expanding into almond milk, almond butter, and all sorts of other areas. In short, even before my regression, walnuts had remained agricultural produce, while almonds had become an industry.
Their market potential was on an entirely different level.
“Then why did you bring up blueberries?”
At this point, he seemed curious as to why I had mentioned blueberries in the first place. But no matter how well I explained it, I doubted he would choose blueberries. There were still barely any proper blueberry farms in California, so they were unfamiliar, and I expected he would find it hard to take that step.
“I think they’re very promising. As much as almonds. But if you had to choose between the two, you’d choose almonds, wouldn’t you?”
“Hmm... Probably?”
“Then, well...”
When I acted as though there was no need for me to explain further, Frederick did not ask any more about blueberries.
“If you weren’t growing grapes, would almonds be worth choosing?”
“Of course. Absolutely.”
Not just growing almonds, either. I would even build a factory to process them.
“Then replacing it with a farm of the same size isn’t a bad choice, and it would be better to choose one that’s undergoing generational replacement, gain plenty of experience, and learn gradually. Is that it?”
“That’s right. Then you’ll earn profits while gaining experience.”
“And we’d form a partnership with you again?”
“You can, or you don’t have to.”
Since I had already formed a strategic partnership with Frederick, there was now room to earn significant profits at least in the cherry farming side of things. So I left everything to Frederick’s decision, but he seemed to lack confidence in his son.
“I’d like to. I felt it again with the walnut farm. If it had been cherry farming, that sort of thing probably wouldn’t have happened, would it?”
“Probably not.”
For the cherry farm, I occasionally came by to check the management conditions and point out what was lacking. Because she had experienced that, Chloe had been able to start anew with the Shingo pears so easily. If a problem arose, I would help, and she already knew I would keep advising her so that problems did not arise in the first place.
Walnut farming was different, so when the problem occurred back then, my visit to the walnut farm had been my first.
“I’d like to do it under the same conditions as before.”
“That’s not bad for me, but I don’t know whether Brandon will accept it.”
“He’ll accept it. He’s different from before. He seems sincere about farming now.”
“If that’s the case... All right, then. Almonds are around the fruiting period now, so they should be in the middle of harvest. They won’t sell a farm before the harvest is even finished, so I think you can sign a contract around September.”
“Good. I’ll do that.”
Frederick nodded. Just as I was about to get up, thinking the advice was finished, he asked again.
“Ah, by the way...”
“Yes?”
“If it’s that promising, wouldn’t it be all right to start with something bigger than a hundred acres?”
Now that I looked at it, it did not seem Frederick had been making such brisk decisions purely because of his trust in me. Perhaps he was simply the kind of person who was born liking risky moves.
As for me, if I had the money, I would think even a thousand acres was too little, let alone a hundred, and secure as much land as possible. But Frederick had not seen the future, and yet he was still trying to invest his assets.
“I’m confident, yes, but you don’t necessarily have to go that far...”
“Our family has been growing cherries in Brentwood for over thirty years. How much do you think we’ve earned in all that time?”
“......”
“The children are all grown now, and I thought I would just keep aging until it all ended. But thinking about starting a new crop at my age makes my heart race again.”
“You’re still young at heart.”
“Hahaha! Am I? Hmm... I suppose I am. I thought my passion had faded, but maybe I was just too used to the farming I’d been doing. It feels thrilling, like meeting a new lover. I suppose this is why people have affairs.”
“Then you’re not planning to leave it all to Brandon?”
“I’ve only been involved with the cherries occasionally lately, and mostly focused on the olive farm. But I’m thinking of changing that. I’ll give Brandon a stake equivalent to what he had in the walnut farm. I’ll start with the rest as my own stake. Ah, and I’ll put thirty percent of that in your name. What do you think?”
The scale had become far larger than I had initially expected.
“I have no reason to oppose it.”
“Good! Then I’ll find a suitable farm and let you know. Once the contract is prepared, we’ll set a date and sign it.”
“Understood.”
Frederick reached his conclusion, buoyed by anticipation for the future. It was a good thing it was me; if he had run into a swindler, he might have been thoroughly taken advantage of. Of course, because the field itself was farming, he could trust it and begin. If it had been a completely different industry, he would not have been swayed so easily.
After that, time passed quickly, and September, the grape harvest season, arrived. Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested from early October to mid-October at the latest. Because of that, I was in an extremely sensitive period, deliberately raising the SWP figures to impose water stress.
Uncle Frederick, who had already established a business entity called Solaris Nut Company in August and signed a contract with me, acquired a farm called Sierra Bloom Farms located in Fresno County in the Central Valley.
Of course, since we had an official business agreement, I personally visited several candidate farms, and Sierra Bloom Farms, the farm he purchased this time, was one I had recommended.
Though I had secured a stake in yet another business, I did not pay it much attention. By now he was probably full of anticipation, but I intended to start teaching him about almond farming only little by little after the harvest was completely over.
Then was I focusing solely on grape cultivation? No. I had visited LA, a place that could truly be called a big city, for the first time since my regression.
White & Company Wine Trading headquarters.
“Welcome. We’re glad to have you here.”
Receiving Christopher’s greeting as we entered the office, Dad and I drank the juice the staff brought us while waiting for today’s briefing.
Neatly arranged folders lay on the long conference table, and on the wall, a beam projector displayed the title: “Sylphide / 2006 Distribution Plan.”
“It’s been a while. Thank you sincerely for coming in person. I will now begin the briefing on the distribution strategy for Sylphide.”
His smile carried his characteristic confidence. Today’s visit had come about because Christopher had proposed that he wanted to explain the branding and distribution strategy for Sylphide.
“This spring season, we will allocate Sylphide to thirty high-end restaurants centered around New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. These are places frequently visited by journalists from Wine Enthusiast and Food & Wine. We’ll encourage natural exposure there, and as you may have guessed, the goal is not sales. It’s controlling the speed at which its reputation spreads.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
Dad, who had run a business before, nodded with a satisfied smile.
“The second phase is a limited private allocation this summer. From July to August, emails and printed catalogs have already been sent to existing accounts and VIP customers. Through this catalog, we plan to sell the wine first to customers who make reservations, positioning it as a ‘wine you can’t get.’ The price will be over 150 dollars per bottle, with no discounts. The more limited the volume, the higher the value rises.”
Since the wholesale price was 70 dollars, it was entirely understandable for the distributor to sell it for 150 dollars.
“What’s that...?”
A photo of a charity event appeared on the screen. Wine bottles were lined up atop white tablecloths.
“The final phase is a year-end charity auction. We will be hosting a ‘Legacy Auction’ together with the New York Lobbyists Association. If I may, I would like to ask one favor of you. We need the direct signature of the winemaker who made Sylphide.”
“A signature?”
“Yes. We want Sylphide to remain not as an up-and-coming wine, but as a collectible. We expect the auction price per case to be at least 1,200 dollars. Converted by bottle, that’s over 200 dollars.”
Since I had already been making preparations in my own way to create a cult-level wine, there was nothing bad about Redwood Wine being placed in such a setting first. So the intention was good, but...
“Well, since you’re calling it a limited edition, instead of just a signature, I’ll give you barrels I’ve paid a bit more attention to. So how many signatures...?”
“We need at least fifty cases.”
Fifty cases... They were saying they needed 600 signatures.
I looked at Dad.
“Phew... All right. I’ll do it.”
Dad began loosening his wrist with a worried expression.