There were three citrus fruit sales during Lions Year 2006-2007. The results were mixed, with some strong points and some problem areas. As a general rule, it appears that our overall fruit sale results are down somewhat from previous years. Some of the reasons for this included: [1.] Weather conditions resulting in lower customer turnouts; [2.] Significant price increases from our Florida supplier. The severe damage to the citrus crops in California resulted in increased demand and higher prices on the Florida crops; [3.] Rescheduling of the February sale to March; [4.] Technical problems with the postcard mailing announcing the rescheduling to March. These problems have now been corrected; [5.] Lower grapefruit sales resulting, in part, from more people taking medications (Lipitor) who have been advised to avoid eating grapefruit which causes the potency of the drug to be reduced.
Many thanks go out to the Lions who helped to staff these three sales. We had excellent turnouts for all three sales and there were no last minute calls for more help. While all Lions earned our heartfelt thanks, there was one group in particular that deserves special thanks. The signs for the November/December sales were taken down after the December sale and were put up again in mid-February for the March sale. Several areas where the signs needed to go were covered with mounds of ice and snow caused by the snow plows clearing the parking lot. Much of this had turned into solid ice up to three feet thick. The problem was solved by some serious chopping with any ax. Lion Tom Edick gets the Paul Bunyan Award for his perseverance and hard work.
Thanks also go to Lion Ken Schutz for his work on our postcard mailing list. We are mailing just under 1,000 postcards per fruit sale. These postcards are being mailed by “snail mail†and, thanks to Ken’s initiative, by email. More customers are signing up for the email coupons in lieu of the postcards. As the email list grows, this should have a significant decrease in our postage costs.
Again, thanks to all the FHLC members who assisted in the citrus fruit sales for this Lion’s Year.
