Re-run for people who missed this notice on 9/9, 9/10, 9/11 & 9/12. Hi Chile-Heads, No, you haven't missed out on anything, this is the first notice. I'll post it also on 9/10 => 9/17 to Chile-Heads-Digest to make sure irregular readers have more of a chance to join in. This year, on a trial basis, I'm fronting our group buy with my own money for 300 lbs. If I don't sell at least 200.333333 lbs. to recover my costs - the rest goes to Grey Bears - I'm turning this group buy over a year earlier to Scott Ashkenaz - who holds a hotluck for ~300 people every April or May - and Allen Pierce, my son - who works at Driscoll Strawberry Associates and arranges for a cooler truck on its regular run to stop by and pick up the boxes of red savinas from the cold storage place and bring them to Grey Bears' cooler - in 2005 instead of in 2006 when I retire up to Oroville, CA. The orders will be available in 5-lb. boxes. at $15/box. 170# has already been reserved by email. Smaller orders than 5 lbs. will be on a first come, first serve basis. So just bring cash or a check made out to Art Pierce to Grey Bears and pick up your red savinas. Grey Bears 2710 Chanticleer Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95065-1812 1.831.479.1055 Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/4epy8 The chiles will be ready to be picked up 10 AM =>3 PM Saturday & Sunday, 9/18-19, 8:30 AM => 3:30 PM Monday through Friday, 9/20 => 9/24 and again 10 AM =>3 PM Saturday & Sunday, 9/25 => 26. Discolor disclaimer: The red savinas authorized by Frank & Mary Garcia of GNS Spices are grown by CJJ Farming out of Santa Maria, CA and are grown in Bakersfield, which is hotter than the just inland areas where we've been getting them from in the past - usually a warmer night time soil temperature increases capsaicin percent. Sal Barajas of CJJ says there is some visual discoloration on some of the chiles from the cucumber mosaic virus, but only the appearance may be affected on some of the chiles, not the flavor or heat. May have photos of these chiles for emailing to you on your request sometime this week. Love, Art Pierce 714 Almond Drive Watsonville, CA 95076-3608 1.831.724.7204 (h) 1.831.840.3537 (c) pierces@cruzio.com The website at http://www.allenlee.com/hotshop/ (aka Bay Area Red Savinas by Art Pierce <http://www.allenlee.com/hotshop/> ) is back in working order