We thank you whole heartedly for your enthusiasm in joining us for harvesting this year. Unfortunately as we are in the business of agriculture, we are dependent on mother nature. We make predictions at the beginnig of September based on all the information we have at the time, but since no one can predict actual weather that far in advance, we still have to make adjustments each year as the harvest dates get closer. For those who may not be accustomed to the intricacies of growing/picking grapes they are very succeptable to rain issues. It is critical to the quality of the juice and subsequent wine that the sugar level in the grapes be as close to a certain number as possible. Any rain, both in the ground and on the grapes (as the grapes we would have been harvesting this weekend would go directly into fermentation) dilutes the sugars. For this reason the team has made the decision that it is not in the best interest of the grapes and our ability to produce good quality wine to harvest this weekend.

Q: What does this mean for you, our registered harvesters?

A: We will be calling each of the primary contacts that had signed up to harvest on Saturday, October 1. We will be able to offer the opportunity to attend Harvest on Saturday October 8th to most of you (basically until any more available spots fill up). For those who definitely cannot attend on October 8th you may stop in to Flag Hill during our open hours (Wed-Sun, 11am-5pm) to receive a cash refund of your registration fees up until October 31, 2011 or you can opt to have a special coupon emailed to you for the value of the registration amount to be used at Flag Hill that is good through December 31, 2011.

Q: What if I purchased a Harvest Fest T-Shirt?

A: You can have three options if you purchased a T-Shirt:

• 1. If you decide that you do not want it, you can let us know and your money will be refunded in the same fashion as the registration money (see above).
• 2. You can pick it up at Flag Hill during our open hours (Wed-Sun, 11am - 5pm through October 31, 2011. If you have not picked it up by then, we will automatically send you a special coupon for the corresponding dollar value that needs to be used at Flag Hill by December 31, 2011.
• 3. If you would like the t-shirt(s) to be mailed to you, we will package it/them up at no cost to you, but you are responsible for the cost of the shipping, which once figured out can be taken out of your registration money if you wish.

If you have any other questions, please contact Heather Houle this weekend at 603-659-2949.