Dear Friends and Valued Customers,

Greetings from Apple Wedge Packers & Cider! We hope you are enjoying a prosperous and healthy 2006.

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of some very important changes taking place at Apple Wedge this year. Due to opportunities in the wholesale portion of our business, we will not be offering Spring, Fall, Public School or Homeschool Tours, nor will we offer a public Retail Shop during the 2006 season. Although these ventures were both exciting and very well received by the public, we feel that at this time our focus must steer toward the foundation of our business--the wholesale apple and apple cider industry.

First and foremost, the goal of our family-owned and operated business has been to provide premium quality mountain grown apples and apple products while striving for profitability through consistency and diversification of our products. As those of you who have toured our facility know, we not only pack fruit for ourselves but for other NC growers as well. Due to a number of reasons it has become more and more difficult for NC apple producers to continue farming.

As community-minded leaders in the industry, we encourage the growth of area apple production and continue to search out new market opportunities that will allow our business as well as the growers we serve to thrive. Due to this restructuring, we have found it is necessary to spend our time and energy in this direction. Although at this time we are putting the tour and retail areas of our business on hold, we hope to one day be able to market this area again.

We appreciate the support we have received from everyone during this venture. Please check our website for updates. Feel free to contact us if you have further needs or questions and continue to ask for and purchase Apple Wedge products in your local grocery.

Greg and Lisa Nix, Owners