The Orange Project 2009 - 2010

Introduction

The P.S.A. requires more money to operate than is take in through membership fees and concert tickets. Music is bought and stored, soloists paid, space rented, conductors and accompanists paid a fraction of what they deserve, and other expenses.

The orange and grapefruit sale project is a highly successful fundraising method without unpleasant sales duties. It is an easy, low pressure, and effective way to bring in money essential to our budget.

Following is what you need to know in order to successfully contribute to these efforts:

The Fruit

The fruit comes in 20 lb. boxes (2/5 bushel) which contain 24 to 40 oranges or 10 to 20 grapefruit (all dependent upon size & sizes will vary by box). In November and December, the oranges are big navels, incredibly good for juice, and sweet pink grapefruit. In February the oranges are temples with a couple of seeds and a skin easy for peeling, great for eating, but good for juice as well, plus the pink grapefruit.

The fruit is literally picked two days before arriving in MA, the quality just doesn’t compare to store-bought fruit. Our pricing is comparable to the supermarket prices and substantially cheaper than the gift box catalogue pricing.

Cost - $27 per box or $13.50 for half box.

Orders can of any of the following: 1) Full box of oranges or grapefruits 2) Half box of oranges or grapefruits $13.50 3) Mixed full box of oranges and grapefruits

How It Works

You contact anyone you can (home, church, work, quilting club, whatever) and let them know that you have fresh-picked oranges and grapefruits to sell. Send out an e-mail – a sample is found at the end of these instructions.

Keep track of your contacts and want and how many boxes of what fruit they want. And don’t forget to order some for yourself!

About the Money

Payment: It simplifies things for you if you get as much of your payments up front, however, you must have ALL money collected before the delivery date to turn in when you pick up your order(s). Your money can be turned in to the designated person (orchestra or chorus) at rehearsals prior to the delivery date OR on the delivery date when you pick up your order.

Checks are made payable to: PSA or Philharmonic Society of Arlington (with Orange Project-“your” name in the memo field).

Day of Delivery

Notification via e-mail about the approximately pick-up time for the fruit pick-up will go out and contact names & phone numbers will have been furnished for those without e-mail.

On the day the order comes, a bunch of us get together to help unload the truck, and the rest of you come over and pick up what you ordered. The delivery site will be announced. Breakfast or lunch will be served for any volunteer unloaders.

Still have Questions?

If you’ve still got questions or get a question from someone you can’t answer then feel free to contact our Orange Project guru extraordinaire:

David Singer ,

781 862 4627

drsingers@rcn.com

Sample Message for Email or Voice Mail

This is a sample of a good email to send to friends and relations, business, or church contacts, etc. Keep in mind that no one likes to be pushy, and just telling people you have fresh Florida fruit available is enough. They want it, will buy it from someone, and it might as well be you, on behalf of us.

Hi (Dear Friends, or whatever your salutation),

This is a friendly announcement, (or a reminder if you already know about it), not a sales pitch.

Our chorus gets these delicious navel oranges and pink grapefruits during November, December and February as a fundraising project. The fruit is literally picked 2 days before arriving in MA – so you’re getting fruit right off the trees!

Oranges come about 24-40 to a box, grapefruits about 12-20 to a box and cost $27 per box or $13.50 per half box and you are welcome to order a mixed box (half oranges/half grapefruits) too. Our price is comparable to the grocery store on a per-pound basis, and a far better price than the gift catalogs. Boxes of fruit make great gifts for others and don’t forget to be nice to yourself.

Please contact me before December 6 and the fruit will arrive on Saturday, December 12. I will be in touch with you to coordinate how you’ll get your fruit from me. The next chance to order will be early in February.