The Suri Network Product
Development Committee
(SNPDC) Wants Your Fleece!
WHAT: The SNPDC is asking you to donate
between 4 oz and 1 lbs of your best white suri
blanket fiber. It will need to be washed, and we
have attached washing instructions for those who
have not done this before or who need a refresher.
WHEN: By April 13, 2008.
WHERE: Please send to Ann Mayes, Alpacas
d'Auxvasse, 9266 County Rd. 1012, Auxvasse, MO 65231
WHY: Our research tells us that outside of
the alpaca community, very few people know about
suri fiber, making it difficult for farms and co-ops
to sell end products. So, as one of several
initiatives that the SNPDC will undertake to educate
the public and better promote our fiber, we will be
attending six large, high traffic fiber festivals
over the next twelve months. We will have a Suri
Network booth set up at each festival with spinning
wheels and a "drop in and spin" theme. We will have
spinning instructors on hand with educational
information throughout the booth. We will be handing
out roving samples to spinners with information on
where they can find more if they like it.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU: For those members that
send us fiber, we will create a page on the Suri
Network website that lists contributing farms. Each
roving sample will have a card in it that directs
people to that page. Thus, if they spin with the
fiber and like it, they will have an immediate
resource on where to get more fiber in their area -
and it just might be your farm! Remember, clean raw
suri fiber is still selling for $1.25/oz, roving is
selling for $4.00/oz.
As this endeavor will serve to educate the public
and promote our wonderful suri fiber, we need your
best! So show us what you've got, and we'll try to
help you move it!
And remember, this is just one of several
initiatives the SNPDC is undertaking. We will begin
tackling the promotion of suri fiber from many
different angles over the next few months, including
product development, processing options for members,
branding, etc. So stay tuned, and thank you for your
patience!
Liz Vahlkamp
Chair, SNPDC
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