October 16, 2001 (email from OSAP President Brad Masi)

Greetings.
As someone close to OSAP, I want to share some difficult news about OSAP
with you. As you may or may not know, OSAP is confronting a challenging
financial situation this year. We are anticipating a $17,000+ deficit for
the year, assuming that we meet our minimal budget for farmers' market
sales and sales to OSCA and CDS. To date, EDIC has provided an $8,000
subsidy to help OSAP. Given the deficit, it is likely that additional funds
will need to be transferred to OSAP from EDIC to cover the deficit and
preserve the organization.

Regretfully, given this situation, we are ending the full-time Grower
position on November 30 of this year. The OSAP Board struggled through
making this decision, but the survival of OSAP is at stake.

We will be discontinuing operations on the Lodge farm (our current site)
and moving the full operation to the Clark Farm in 2002. Most of our focus
in 2002 will be on preparing the Clark Farm for more full production.
However, given soil conditions and farm infrastructure needs (irrigation
lines, facilities, etc.), we will be greatly reducing production for OSAP
during 2002. With greatly reduced production, we will be unable to afford a
full-time grower in 2002.

Let's be supportive of Gerry in whatever ways we can during this time of
transition.
Thanks for all of your help.
-Brad Masi
OSAP President