What is the Alpaca Blanket Project?
The Alpaca Blanket Project (ABP) is a collaboration of American alpaca growers interested
in building a lucrative, sustainable, high-end fiber industry in the United States. Since
2003, Peter & Carol Lundberg have been working toward creating this North American
resource for the alpaca community to use for their fiber. In working with Pendleton Woolen
Mills, an American fiber mill with a renowned worldwide reputation, ABP is paying American
alpaca growers for their fiber for the production of 100% alpaca blankets. This gives the
American alpaca farmer the ability to produce a cost-effective, American-made product
that brings public awareness to the wonders of alpaca fleece.
It’s All About The Fiber
According to Alpaca Registry, Inc., there are nearly 200,000 alpacas registered in the
United States. This does not include unregistered fiber animals and animals registered
with the Canadian Llama & Alpaca Registry. With the U.S. alpaca population increasing
exponentially each year, alpaca growers are now faced with a dichotomy in the industry:
Breeders trying to hold onto their breeding market and growers seeing the industry tied to
fiber and a desire to have that fiber processed in the United States. The ABP feels there
is room in the industry for both standpoints and is excited to offer this resource to both.
Who Can Join
ABP is not a co-op and is open to any alpaca grower who donates a minimum of 100
pounds of fiber. Supporters are assigned a farm number that can be used to receive
feedback on their submitted fiber to aid in their breeding & shearing programs.
Benefits of Collaboration
Contributors not only receive payment for their usable fiber, ABP provides important
feedback information on the fiber received through their Fiber Information program. ABP
also offers sorting/grading classes to members. This provides the hands-on experience of
grading fiber and preparation for commercial production. They also have the benefit of
purchasing the Pendleton-produced blankets at a reduced price for resale in their farm
stores.
Fiber Requirements
ABP is accepting both Suri and Huacaya that is relatively free of vegetation, second cuts,
and medullation and completely free of contaminates that may otherwise contaminate the
ABP inventory (i.e. lice, moth eggs, mold, etc.). Fleece needs to be between 2 and 5
inches in length. We can use fiber from the neck and upper legs if it is uniform and meet
the other requirements stated above. We cannot use grade 6 (above 31 micron) nor can
we use fleece from the apron, belly or lower legs or anything under 2.0 inches at this time.
Mail fiber to:
Alpaca Blanket Project
10868 Siegmund Rd SE
Stayton, OR 97383
The Alpaca Blanket Project (ABP) is a collaboration of American alpaca growers interested
in building a lucrative, sustainable, high-end fiber industry in the United States. Since
2003, Peter & Carol Lundberg have been working toward creating this North American
resource for the alpaca community to use for their fiber. In working with Pendleton Woolen
Mills, an American fiber mill with a renowned worldwide reputation, ABP is paying American
alpaca growers for their fiber for the production of 100% alpaca blankets. This gives the
American alpaca farmer the ability to produce a cost-effective, American-made product
that brings public awareness to the wonders of alpaca fleece.
It’s All About The Fiber
According to Alpaca Registry, Inc., there are nearly 200,000 alpacas registered in the
United States. This does not include unregistered fiber animals and animals registered
with the Canadian Llama & Alpaca Registry. With the U.S. alpaca population increasing
exponentially each year, alpaca growers are now faced with a dichotomy in the industry:
Breeders trying to hold onto their breeding market and growers seeing the industry tied to
fiber and a desire to have that fiber processed in the United States. The ABP feels there
is room in the industry for both standpoints and is excited to offer this resource to both.
Who Can Join
ABP is not a co-op and is open to any alpaca grower who donates a minimum of 100
pounds of fiber. Supporters are assigned a farm number that can be used to receive
feedback on their submitted fiber to aid in their breeding & shearing programs.
Benefits of Collaboration
Contributors not only receive payment for their usable fiber, ABP provides important
feedback information on the fiber received through their Fiber Information program. ABP
also offers sorting/grading classes to members. This provides the hands-on experience of
grading fiber and preparation for commercial production. They also have the benefit of
purchasing the Pendleton-produced blankets at a reduced price for resale in their farm
stores.
Fiber Requirements
ABP is accepting both Suri and Huacaya that is relatively free of vegetation, second cuts,
and medullation and completely free of contaminates that may otherwise contaminate the
ABP inventory (i.e. lice, moth eggs, mold, etc.). Fleece needs to be between 2 and 5
inches in length. We can use fiber from the neck and upper legs if it is uniform and meet
the other requirements stated above. We cannot use grade 6 (above 31 micron) nor can
we use fleece from the apron, belly or lower legs or anything under 2.0 inches at this time.
Mail fiber to:
Alpaca Blanket Project
10868 Siegmund Rd SE
Stayton, OR 97383
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