[CH] Bay Area Red Savinas Group Buy
Art Pierce (pierces@cruzio.com)
Wed, 07 May 2003 15:41:43 -0700
Hi All,
I just talked to Mary Garcia at GNS Spices in Walnut, CA. They have contracted a (remains
anonymous until early Aug.) produce seller and shipper to grow savinas. She didn't say how
many acres but I have a feeling it's more than their previous 84.
She doesn't know whether the seller will sell our small ~500 lbs amount.
The plants are hardening in greenhouses right now. If the weather's right the picking season
will be late Aug.=>early Nov. Mary will call me back in early Aug. with full details
I suspect the price will be much more than the $2/lb. the Garcias charged me, and much more than the
$3/lb. I charged for expenses and to donate to Grey Bears.
I also will have to arrange for a local wholesaler to get them for me, since the grower/seller down there
doesn't allow individual pick-ups.
There are 18 local produce wholesalers in Santa Cruz County, 9 of those here in Watsonville.
I gave Jose Casillas, owner of El Valle Produce, 530 Walker St., Watsonville, 831.728.7781 about 30
savinas in Oct. 2001. He loved them! I just talked to his daughter, Lucy, who said he's visiting his folks
in Tiuana and won't be back 'til next week, but Jose is going to be growing savinas somewhere around here.
(I heard somewhere the Garcias let their PVP on savinas lapse. Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor?)
Lucy says the price will be as much as they can possibly get from local small markets and chain grocery
stores around here. I don't know the timing on any of this yet. (I doubt we could pick our own.)
Anyway, after the Garcias decided not to grow any last year, I'm working on our annual group buy again.
Art Pierce
831.724.7204