Kona Coffee Blend Labeling Law
Dear Friends of Kona Coffee:
As you may know, our County Council passed a Resolution asking that no coffee may bear the name Kona Blend unless it has a minimum of 75 % Kona in the package. State law currently allows the name Kona Blend to be used on coffee containing only 10%.
Rep. Bob Herkes has introduced House Bill 72, and Sen. Russell Kokubun has introduced Senate Bill 661, both these Bills respectfully follow our County Council Resolution and ask for a minimum of 75% Kona in the bag before the name Kona Blend can be used.
WHY is this so important?
100% Kona coffee sells for a high price, the second highest in the world. The price is due to its scarcity, and to its reputation for its unique flavor and quality. The flood of cheap blends using the name Kona makes the consumer think that the coffee is plentiful, and that the flavor is nothing special, tastes just the same as the average South American cheap coffee. If consumer perception continues to see this, few will be willing to pay 100% Kona’s premium price, and it will become uneconomical to farm coffee in Kona.
The Kona Coffee Farmers Association has come out strongly behind this legislation. If you want to help us, please call Bruce at 322-1740 or email info@konacoffeefarmers.org, and he will tell you where to send testimony, or we will pay for your airfare if you are willing to go yourself to testify in favor of the Bills.
PLEASE, if you do nothing else, sign the online petition at
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/75Kona/
For more info: www.konacoffeefarmers.org/
posted by Robert @ 1/28/2007
3 Comments
3 Comments:
This issue is very important to those of us in the Hawaiian coffee business. Kona coffee is the smoothest, best tasting coffee in the world. But when people start diluting the taste by puting 90% of the cheapest beans they can find, people end up paying more than they should and getting a barely average product. Then we have to start looking for ways to offer less expensive coffees, so that we can compete. Since, we still believe in only offering a high quality product. We only use Hawaiian coffees in our blends and print everything on the label. Everyone in the business should have to do the same.
Dear Zondre,
I hope you signed the KCFA petition. http://www.petitiononline.com/75Kona/petition.html I am part of that Farmer's group.
This morning we are asking people, especially with Hawaii zip codes to help us reach our goal of "1000 Friends of Kona Coffee!" We feel that our Hawaii State Legislators are mainly impressed by their Constituency. The Lobbyist we attempted to hire but then we couldn't afford the $25,000 (!) he asked for, reminded us, that "a politican's main goal is to get re-elected". So please go through your personal address book and ask local people for their support petition support even if they don't drink Kona Coffee!. We will make that 1000 goal, I am sure!
Our opposition is well funded and does not want the Bills aimed at raising the amount of real Kona in a Kona "Blend", to pass.
Mahalo,
Cea
I did sign the petition. But I didn't think about asking all my customers on Oahu to do the same. Thanks for reminding me.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home