New County Council Resolves To
Protect The Integrity Of Kona Coffee
KAILUA KONA, HAWAII, DECEMBER 20, 2006 - The first session of the new Hawaii County Council saw a historic resolution being passed by an 8-1 vote.
Resolution 18-06 to the Hawaii State Legislature to revise and clarify Hawaii Revised Statute 486-120.6, recommending that any coffee labeled "Kona Coffee Blend" shall have a minimum of 75% Kona Coffee and should be labeled accordingly.
The Resolution also requires prominent identification on any package of "Kona Coffee Blend” to include the percentage by weight of any United States-grown coffee and in the case of foreign coffee to include the country of origin and percentage by weight.
The Resolution was introduced by new Kona representative Brenda Ford, and strongly supported by North Kona Representative Angel Pilago, and South Kona/Kau representative Bob Jacobson. Also voting in favor of the resolution were Dominic Yagong, J. Ishimoto, Donald Ikeda, Emily Naeole, and new Chairman Pete Hoffman. Only Stacy Higa of Hilo voted against.
Thirty seven people gave testimony in support, plus others had sent in written testimony. Testimony in support came from many individual members of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association, the Kona Coffee Council, and the Kona County Farm Bureau. The organizations that gave official testimony were the Kona Coffee Farmers Association represented by Sandra Scarr and the Hawaii Democratic organization represented by Pat Stolfa.
Four people spoke in opposition, they represented the Hawaii Coffee Company, Captain Cook Coffee Company, Greenwell Farms, and Kona Mountain Farm.
It was an emotional occasion for several of the speakers as they spoke so passionately about the integrity of Kona coffee. Issues that were raised included the economic damage being done to the Kona reputation by the Kona name being used on coffee that contains only 10% Kona and 90% foreign coffee of questionable origin. Testifiers made the point repeatedly that the legislation does not ask blenders not to blend, it simply asks them to choose a name for their blend that does not include the name of Kona.
The four processors who testified all said they feared that such legislation would cause a glut of Kona coffee. But the many cherry farmers, estate farmers, consumers, and sellers stated that Kona coffee is sold out completely every year and that they could sell far more of it than they can grow. “Farming coffee in Kona is only viable because of its high reputation and correspondingly high price”, said Ken Sheppard, former Education Chair of the Kona Coffee Council. “The flood of cheap blends using the Kona name will cause Kona to be considered a commodity coffee instead of a specialty coffee and the price will drop.”
“Kona coffee farmers will now take their case to the State legislature”, said KCFA president Cecilia Smith, “and ask for protection of the Kona name as requested by this Resolution from the Hawaii County Council. Famous agriculture products are well protected by other states – Napa and Somona Wines, Vidalia Onions, Washington apples and many more. It is time to put the same protection around one of Hawaii’s signature crops.”
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.
posted by Robert @ 12/21/2006
