HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0421.016 2020-2022 1
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COUNTY CL."g
1 Nov 2021 COUNTY OF
HAWA I
Mahalo to Councilmember Holeka Inaba wh(W1irNNcW2ecM# esolution and the
Councilmembers who voted in favor at the Committee hearing for Hawaii County Council
Resolution No. 223-21 asks the State Legislature "to amend the minimum percentage
requirement for blends of geographically named Hawaii-grown coffee from 10%to 515/0."
KCFA membersPORT the COUNTY OF HAWAII - STATE OF Hawaii
RESOLUTION NO. 223 1:A Resolution Urging The Hawaii State Legislature To Amend.Coff
ee Labeling Requirements For Blends Of Geographically
Named Hawaii-Grown Coffee. }
On behalf of the more than 300 members of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association, we are 4
submitting this written testimony in support of Hawaii County Council Resolution No. 223-21. E
FOLKS DRINKING "KONA" COFFEE SHOULD KNOWTO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY
ARE DRINKING.
We have two working Kona coffee farms [Honalo Farm and Cynthiana Farm]. We produce
KONA typica coffee, an heirloom variety of Coffea arabica, a long-established and
traditional coffee of Hawai'i.
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Please note that agricultural products from all over the world are, and have been,
protected by laws that control their identity as to place of origin and unique
characteristics. Some notable examples include wines, cheeses, olive oils, specialty
vinegars, spices, and condiments. Coffee produced in Kona and other notable Hawaiian
appellations deserve to be treated in the same manner. The Kona brand must have its
integrity protected to command the high respect that it garners in the broad coffee
world.
Consumers deserve to know what they are consuming. For roasted coffee, 10% coffee blends
that use Hawaiian names, such as Kona and Kau, must state the % of named coffee in the
blend, as well as what the rest of the coffee blend really is.
Our reasons for Hawaii County Council Resolution No. 223-21 are:
1 Misleading labeling is fraudulent— consumers should be able to know what they are
actually paying for.
2. Use of the name without requiring the content exploits the region and deprives
farmers of income. Further, not even identifying the 49% as Arabica or not is also
misleading. Our legislature has Icontinues to support farmers in their fight against
Coffee Borer Beetles[THANKYOU VERY MUCH] and now the Coffee Leaf Rust fight so
please move forward with this support.
3. Low quality coffee is being sold under a prestigious name and results in lowering
standards and damaging the brand. Possible blending with Robusta coffee also
damages the brand.
COMM.
Ref. o:
Ref. Date NV 2021
The blenders, many owned by large companies, strongly oppose this change because they
are making a fortune selling inexpensive coffee that may not even be Arabica as "Kona" or
"Ka'u" to unsuspecting customers.
Hawaii needs to step up and protect the brand integrity of its premier Arabfca coffee
brands that are grown throughout the islands. Thank you for your positive consideration
Mahalo in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Bruce and Cynthia Maryanoff
cmaryanoff@comcast.net
Co-CEOs, Absolute Palate LLC
1 Nov 2021