New group forms to protect Kona coffee

KAILUA KONA, HAWAII, – A group of Kona coffee farmers
have formed a new organization to help protect the famous Kona coffee
name. The group, the Kona Coffee Farmers Association, filed Articles of
Incorporation, and adopted By Laws at a meeting held on February 15,
which was attended by 24 farmers. The KCFA then elected its first Board
of Directors. On February 17, the Board met to elect Officers.

The president, Rick Funk of Honu Kona Coffee, said “Forming the KCFA was
a necessary step after the current Kona Coffee Council Board failed to
support Bills we had urged our legislators to put forward”. The Bills,
HB1974 and HB2163, introduced by Representative Bob Herkes and Speaker
Calvin Say, would have changed the labeling laws to prevent the current
practice of attaching the Kona name to coffee that is 90% of foreign
origin. In a letter from Representative Herkes sent out to the many
farmers who had testified in support of the Bills, Herkes blamed the
lack of consensus for the failure of the bills to be heard.

KCFA secretary, Fred Housel of Kiele O Kona Coffee, stated, “The gourmet
Kona name is being jeopardized by ambiguously labeled Kona blends. Kona
coffee farmers must take steps now to protect the reputation of Kona
coffee from unscrupulous marketeers who degrade the Kona name for their
own profit.”

Prominent among the issues the KCFA will support is the COOL legislation
(Country of Origin). If coffee is added to this Federal legislation,
Kona coffee farmers would be able to put “Origin of USA” on their
packages, something no blend of foreign coffee can do. KCFA
vice-president Sandra Scarr of Daily Fix Coffee added, “We will also ask
our legislators to bring new labeling bills next year, and the KCFA will
back them even if other organizations with different agendas do not”.

Other KCFA Board members are Joan Rowe, Treasurer, of Rowes View Coffee,
Nancy Griffith of Aama Organic Farm, Suzanne Shriner of Lions Gate
Farms, and Mary Lou Moss of Cuppa Kona Coffee.

The Kona Coffee Farmers Association is a volunteer, non-profit,
community-based organization of coffee farmers with the mission to
promote and protect the economic interests of Kona coffee farmers who
grow and sell 100% Kona coffee and to seek greater legal protection of
the Kona coffee name.

Kona Coffee Farmers Association
PO Box 5436, Kailua Kona, HI 96745 • info@konacoffeefarmers.org

Contact: Rick Funk 808-328-9552