12-9-00
Dear Stan:
Sorry for the delay responding to your letter. Out of town at a national
bargaining conference and when I returned, the number of e-mail messages
was staggering.

To answer your questions. No problem with mentioning my name.
Second, our organization is a cooperative bargaining association which
simply means we attempt to gather together as many member growers as
possible to meet with processors for the purpose of negotiating prices paid
for table olives being purchased. It's not easy for two reasons: First,
many growers are not members. Therefore, they get a free ride because the
prices we negotiate are the market prices paid all growers in California
for their olives. Second, we have experienced severe consolidation of
processors (only two majors left). Now the smaller growers are in harms way
because in years of large crops, the little guys have no home.

The varieties we deal with for table purposes are, in order of importance:
Manzanillo, Sevillano, Ascolano, Mission and Barouni. There are a
significant number of small growers that we represent through our
association. Let me know what you need. I'm sure we can be of help.
Sincerely,
Adin