WE HAVE SHIPPED ABOUT 50,000 APICURE PACKETS. THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS
WITH THE PACKAGING MACHINERY UNDER FILLING SOME OF THE PACKAGES, BUT
THAT HAS BEEN SOLVED AND THE  50,000 THAT WENT OUT ARE ALL AT 200 GRAMS
OR ABOVE.  THERE HAS BEEN ONE CASE THAT I KNOW OF WHERE TWO PACKETS HAD
INADEQUATE GELLING AGENT IN THEM WHICH EMPHASIZES THE NEED TO USE
CHEMICAL RESISTANT GLOVES AS PER THE LABEL AND NOT BEEKEEPER'S LEATHER
GLOVES..  SOME OF THE INITIAL 3000 PACKETS THAT WENT OUT WERE NOT
ADEQUATELY WASHED AND GAVE OUT QUITE AN ODOR FROM FORMIC RESIDUE ON THE
OUTSIDE.  BUT,  SO FAR WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PACKETS THAT WEREN'T SEALED
PROPERLY.  I AM CONFIDENT THAT ALL THE MINOR GLITCHES ARE BEYOND US NOW,
AND WE HAVE TO FACE THE MAJOR PROBLEM - PRODUCING ENOUGH TO MEET THE
DEMAND WE EXPECT  IN THE SUMMER FOR FALL USE. WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO LINE
UP ANOTHER PACKAGER AND IT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP IF THE BEEKEEPERS
ORDERED FROM THE DISTRIBUTORS WELL IN ADVANCE.    BOB STEVENS