HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0421.003 2020-2022 M04.421
From: Bruce Corker
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2021 4:27 PM j
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony in Support of Resolution No. 223-21
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Below, please find testimony to the Government Operations Committee in support of Resolution No. 223-21,
scheduled for hearing at 10:30 am on Tuesday, October 19, 2021.
Thank you,
Bruce Corker 00
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Dear Chair Kimball and Members of the Committee:
I am a coffee farmer in Holualoa in the North Kona District, and I strongly support Resolution No. 223-21. j
More than 90%of the State's coffee farms are in Hawaii County. The County's coffee farmers recognize and
appreciate this Resolution as part of the County Council's on-going effort to support Hawaii Island farmers.
For more than 30 years Hawaii has been the only region anywhere in the world to authorize the use of its regional
names ("Ka'u", "Kona", "Maui", "Hawaii") on packages of one of its agricultural products with only 10%of the
content grown in the named region.
The 10% coffee blend labeling law is a disgrace to the State. This law encourages the deception of consumers and j
damages the economic interests of Hawaii's farmers.
Packages labeled as "Ka'u Coffee Blends" mislead consumers into believing they are buying Kau coffee, when the
content is in fact 90% inexpensive, imported coffee from undisclosed origins. Millions of pounds of deceptively
labeled "Kona Coffee Blends"flood the market each year and reduce the income of the average Kona coffee farmer
by thousands of dollars each year.
In 2007, the State Legislature made a factual finding that the 10% labeling law"causes consumer fraud" and
"degrades"the reputation of Hawaii-grown coffee. [SCR 102] It is long past time for Hawaii to reform this law, and
this Resolution effectively urges the Legislature to act.
Respectfully submitted,
Bruce Corker
Rancho Aloha
Holualoa
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