Chuck

And the ficus carica, or the fig wasp, is also imported from Turkey because they have a very special relationship.

Yeah, totally. And we're going to tell you how that happens right now. I was going to say right after this, but that would be way too soon. First thing we need to say is that the fig, the thing that you're eating, it's something within a larger structure, and it's called a zirconium, is what you're actually eating. It's sort of like an inverted flower. It's not really a fruit necessarily. No.

Yeah, totally. And we're going to tell you how that happens right now. I was going to say right after this, but that would be way too soon. First thing we need to say is that the fig, the thing that you're eating, it's something within a larger structure, and it's called a zirconium, is what you're actually eating. It's sort of like an inverted flower. It's not really a fruit necessarily. No.

Yeah, totally. And we're going to tell you how that happens right now. I was going to say right after this, but that would be way too soon. First thing we need to say is that the fig, the thing that you're eating, it's something within a larger structure, and it's called a zirconium, is what you're actually eating. It's sort of like an inverted flower. It's not really a fruit necessarily. No.

And what happens is these Calamarna farmers in California – They have female trees that are going to produce that edible version of the zirconia, and they have male trees that produce an inedible version called a gall fig. And if they want to pollinate those, a wasp has to crawl into that zirconium.

And what happens is these Calamarna farmers in California – They have female trees that are going to produce that edible version of the zirconia, and they have male trees that produce an inedible version called a gall fig. And if they want to pollinate those, a wasp has to crawl into that zirconium.

And what happens is these Calamarna farmers in California – They have female trees that are going to produce that edible version of the zirconia, and they have male trees that produce an inedible version called a gall fig. And if they want to pollinate those, a wasp has to crawl into that zirconium.

A female wasp, she loses her wings on the way because she has to squeeze through a tight little passage. It's a one-way trip, which is very sad. And you end up eating that female wasp. She's broken down by something called phycine. It's a protein-digesting enzyme. So when you eat a fig, there is a little bit of female wasp inside of that thing just broken down and becoming part of that edible fig.

A female wasp, she loses her wings on the way because she has to squeeze through a tight little passage. It's a one-way trip, which is very sad. And you end up eating that female wasp. She's broken down by something called phycine. It's a protein-digesting enzyme. So when you eat a fig, there is a little bit of female wasp inside of that thing just broken down and becoming part of that edible fig.

A female wasp, she loses her wings on the way because she has to squeeze through a tight little passage. It's a one-way trip, which is very sad. And you end up eating that female wasp. She's broken down by something called phycine. It's a protein-digesting enzyme. So when you eat a fig, there is a little bit of female wasp inside of that thing just broken down and becoming part of that edible fig.

For sure. And I mentioned it was a one-way trip. It's fairly sad that that happens, but it's all in good service of that mutual arrangement. Before that happens, this female wasp is going to come out of an inedible male fig. I guess I'm going to call it a fruit because she was born there, and she has mated by that point with a blind, wingless male wasp who never leaves that male fig.

For sure. And I mentioned it was a one-way trip. It's fairly sad that that happens, but it's all in good service of that mutual arrangement. Before that happens, this female wasp is going to come out of an inedible male fig. I guess I'm going to call it a fruit because she was born there, and she has mated by that point with a blind, wingless male wasp who never leaves that male fig.

For sure. And I mentioned it was a one-way trip. It's fairly sad that that happens, but it's all in good service of that mutual arrangement. Before that happens, this female wasp is going to come out of an inedible male fig. I guess I'm going to call it a fruit because she was born there, and she has mated by that point with a blind, wingless male wasp who never leaves that male fig.

So she exits that inedible male fig. She picks up some pollen. She's got all these eggs. And at that point, she can either go to a male fig tree or a female fig tree. But if she lands on that female fig tree, her ovipositor is too short to reach into this really long-styled female flower. So she can't lay those eggs in there. She does end up pollinating it, but she sacrifices her life in doing so.

So she exits that inedible male fig. She picks up some pollen. She's got all these eggs. And at that point, she can either go to a male fig tree or a female fig tree. But if she lands on that female fig tree, her ovipositor is too short to reach into this really long-styled female flower. So she can't lay those eggs in there. She does end up pollinating it, but she sacrifices her life in doing so.

So she exits that inedible male fig. She picks up some pollen. She's got all these eggs. And at that point, she can either go to a male fig tree or a female fig tree. But if she lands on that female fig tree, her ovipositor is too short to reach into this really long-styled female flower. So she can't lay those eggs in there. She does end up pollinating it, but she sacrifices her life in doing so.

Yeah, it's pretty great. Like it works both ways. If she goes into that male fig, then she's going to deposit those fertilized eggs. And that circle just kind of keeps going on and on. Farmers separate these trees out to try and keep them from doing that.

Yeah, it's pretty great. Like it works both ways. If she goes into that male fig, then she's going to deposit those fertilized eggs. And that circle just kind of keeps going on and on. Farmers separate these trees out to try and keep them from doing that.

Yeah, it's pretty great. Like it works both ways. If she goes into that male fig, then she's going to deposit those fertilized eggs. And that circle just kind of keeps going on and on. Farmers separate these trees out to try and keep them from doing that.

Oh, you're protesting them doing that?