Time to Update your shipping addresses!
over 8 years ago
– Wed, Aug 23, 2017 at 07:22:04 PM
Hello!
Happy to announce that the recipes are finalized, and as soon as we get a date from our bottler, we will be making this run and start the shipping process. This should all start within the next two to three weeks.
Thank you all for being so extremely patient---it's been a long road, and we can't wait to get these out to you all!
To get ready, I'll need you guys to recheck and update your shipping info through our backerkit survey. If you have moved, you can update your address here:
https://mix-tape-xxxxx-scorpion-the-worlds-first-hot-peppe.backerkit.com/
I'll send another update as soon as we have our bottling date---then, the shipping will begin right after!
Best,
Robyn
Kickstarter Gold/ Chili Pepper CSA/ Free Ghost Peppers for Day 1 backers
almost 9 years ago
– Tue, Jun 20, 2017 at 09:05:53 PM
Hello!
I am super excited to announce that we were invited to be a part of Kickstarter's new GOLD project---a top secret project that just dropped this morning where creators were asked to revive a popular reward of their past campaigns. We are one of only 65 Kickstarter Gold projects across the entire site, and are launching our 2017 Chili Pepper CSA through this new campaign. The pepper CSA reward and fulfillment was a huge hit last year, and I received a lot emails from backers who wanted to be a part of it again, so this seemed like a perfect fit.
Check it out here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/homesweethomegrown/kickstarter-gold-the-worlds-first-chili-pepper-csa
And, to kick things off, we are giving away a free flat rate of ghost peppers for all Day 1 backers who buy a share!
Last year's chili pepper csa Kickstarter was a huge success and we shipped to more than 100 members as part of our campaign fulfillment. We are excited to be offering this again, with even more rare varieties of peppers (45 in total!).
Just to clarify, this new Kickstarter Gold campaign is just for the CSA---and these will go out this fall after Mixx Tape and XXXXX Scorpion is shipped out in August. Farming is seasonal, so we had to offer our CSA shares before the harvest, and didn't want folks to miss out.
We are also offering our Hot Sauce Boss class again as part of the Kickstarter Gold project, which was super fun last year too.
Thanks again all, and I will keep you posted as soon as we reach the next step/ get the greenlight from the FDA, should be soon!
Robyn
Update on Production/ Organic Certification/ Timing
almost 9 years ago
– Mon, Jun 12, 2017 at 11:55:38 PM
Hello!
Hope you all are having a great spring/summer----I just wanted to check in, give you the latest, and apologize again for the delay. Good news is that we have figured out the sourcing issues for Mix Tape but now the process of getting to use the organic seal on our products is taking way longer than I thought. If the delay continues, we may just push forward using organic ingredients, but without getting the organic seal, at least for the first run. We of course always use only organic ingredients, but getting the certification to make it official was a stretch goal of ours that we hit in our campaign and we have been striving to meet this. I had greatly underestimated how long it takes to get organically certified, and apologize for the delay! Because we grow the peppers ourselves, this makes it a little trickier since we are not just purchasing peppers. We are working on getting our field certified organic (we are currently Certified Naturally Grown, and use zero sprays or chemicals), but it's a long process...I am happy to go into more detail if anyone has any questions, but for now, just know that it's all taken way longer than I thought, and I apologize. I hate how long this is taking as well, but promise that these are in the works. We have set a really high bar for ourselves, and have been completely transparent about the entire process--and am happy to answer any questions!
But, good news: our recipes have been fine tuned and submitted---so now we wait for the final FDA signoff. This should take 4 to 6 weeks. Hopefully sooner though!
In the meantime, we have planted the next crop of peppers at the field, all 5,000 of them! And, we are growing some super rare varieties this year. If any backers are in the area and would like to visit, meet up or pick peppers this summer/ fall you are all welcome.
Hot pepper CSA
A few folks who were part of the CSA have also asked to get a share of this year's crop----and I am happy to announce that we will be opening this up next week with even more varieties. Stay tuned for details and a top secret announcement to backers first;)
Timing/Updating Addresses:
The plan is to get all hot sauce rewards out by the end of summer before the CSA shipments start up, so all will be done by Fall!
Everyone will also have a chance to update their addresses as well before these go out, so you will definitely get your sauce.
And, again, thank you for your patience and understanding. I promise you these sauces will be worth the wait! I am really happy with the final recipes and can't wait to get these out to you all!
Robyn
class of 2017 at our field in Kutztown, PA (come visit!)
One down, One to go
almost 9 years ago
– Mon, Apr 24, 2017 at 07:44:50 PM
Hello guys,
Sorry it's been a while, we have been busy hitting the bottler for test runs, and getting ready for the next planting season.
I am happy to announce that the recipe for XXXXX Scorpion is completed---I'm really happy with it, and am glad we took time to get it right! I realize this means it is taking longer than we thought, but I just can't send out a sauce that I don't feel 100% on...thank you all for understanding and being patient. The recipe is off to the FDA and we are just awaiting confirmation. This is a necessary step to ship hot sauce (or any product) across state lines and internationally, but all of the paperwork has been submitted and it is in motion. So, one down;)
We are having a few delays with Mix Tape though, and will need a little more time to get that recipe production-ready..the organic Chipotle powder that I loved in still on backorder, and I am so sorry for the delay. My organic manufacturer says it will be available in late May/early June, but I am hoping for earlier...
Timing
I've gotten a few messages about timing---realistically, it looks like these will all be going out this summer. I guarantee you they will be worth the wait. Again, unlike most hot sauces, we grow the peppers ourselves, and we are really dedicated to creating a quality product. So thank you again for being patient!
Hot Pepper CSA
I have also gotten several messages from backers who were part of our hot pepper CSA, asking to be a part of it again this year. We will be launching another one in a few weeks so stay tuned. Shares will be limited but I will send a note out when they are open so you are the first to know.
In the next few weeks, we will be planting our next crop of peppers, If anyone is in the area, I invite you to come to the field!
Change of Address:
In them meantime, if anyone has had a change of address, you can update it here:
https://mix-tape-xxxxx-scorpion-the-worlds-first-hot-peppe.backerkit.com/
Again, I feel terrible about the delay on the hot sauce part of our last kickstarter----but we are working as fast as possible and I assure you these will be going out as soon as possible.
Best,
Robyn
First test batch of XXXXX Scorpion off the line + Hot Pepper CSA 2017
about 9 years ago
– Tue, Feb 21, 2017 at 10:27:02 PM
Hi again!
Very exciting morning over here----I have two big announcements. We made our first test batch of our limited edition XXXXX Scorpion sauce this morning at the bottler (lots of pics below!) and we are gearing up to launch our 2017 Chili Pepper CSA. There are a limited number of CSA spots and I am offering them to the Kickstarter folks first. More details to come, but wanted to give you a heads up.
XXXXX Scorpion Test Run Day!
While we wait to straighten out the Chipotle Powder situation, the bottler was able to fit us in for our first sample test run of XXXXX Scorpion sauce! It's always nerve wracking to take your home recipe and scale it up, but I think it went pretty well---a few more tweaks, and this one is ready to produce and ship!
Here are some pics:
Moruga scorpion peppers, straight from our farm. Pesticide-free and organically grown by us in Kutztown, PA. Since this sauce uses so many peppers, and we only use peppers that we grow (no peppers from China here!), there will only be a limited amount of XXXXX Scorpion bottles every year.
We are the only one who makes organic hot sauce at our bottler (and they make hundreds of brands of sauces.) What we can't grow, we source organically from brands we love.
PH testing (anything 4.2 or lower is good, so we are in great shape here).
The first test bottles being labeled!
The first bottle of XXXXX Scorpion off the line today. We have a few more tweaks, and then we'll be ready to get these guys out!
Farm to bottle: The scorpion sauce uses so many peppers, there is a limited reserve, and they will only be for the Kickstarter folks this year until our next crop comes in.
2017 Chili Pepper CSA
We will be launching our CSA again soon and have lots of new, rare pepper varieties planned (in all colors and heat levels!). Spots will be limited so we are giving backers a heads up first. And, repeat backers will also get a free box of ghost peppers...As part of our last kickstarter, we shipped more than 500 packages of hot peppers all over the country, we are looking forward to offering even more crazy varieties this year. If you have a favorite pepper in mind, let me know!
Thanks again guys, looking forward to a spicy 2017 with all of you!
Robyn
(me and the head pepper;)
