HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0023.011 2006-2008
December 26, 2006
Rear Hawaii County Covneil Members,
My name is Dorothy Walsh. For the past eighteen years, my husband and I have
owned and operated Kainalia Gardens. For the past year, we have been seiNeg
260°lo Kona coffce from our retail garden center that we purchase from a small
local Kona coffee farmer.
Since our retail setting is directly on Mamatahoa Highway, we have numerous
visitors who frequent our estahlishment. One of the questions that we are
frequently asked is about the "Kona bleed." When we exphtin to the visitors about
the 26% Kona blend, they are appalled that there is such a product wilt the Kona
name affixed to it. The visitors then ask us haw this practice could be legal. We
then explain to them that currently there is no law that prevenb coffee masters,
blenders, or anyone else from doing such a practice.
When visitors come to the Big Island, the one product that is mast coveted do bring
back with them is Kona coffee. To dilate the name Kona coffee # to des a grave
disservice to our visitor industry.
To prodaee a blended Kana coffee may be a legal practice, but we believe it to be
wrong and a deceptive practice. When we shop at stores wha sell Kona coffee
blends, we are shacked to see the labeling of such products thatare labeled for
inteatlonai deceptive marketing techniques. Such products state, "Product of
Hawaii", "Roasted in Hawaii", "Packaged in Hawaii" and "Made in Hawaii".
These marketing tools are wrong, deceptive and misleading to the toariat industry
that we rely so heavily upon.
At least when a tourist buys souvenirs at Wai-Mart, Moae items are clearly and
honestly labeled, "Made is China". We owe it to our visitor industry to honestly
Label where the "Kona coffee" they are baying is actually from.
While many in the Kona coffee indaatry would like to see a minimum of 75% of a
blended Kona coffee, there is still no governing agency who wat?ld police such
practices.- While the Koua coffee industry is fell of same of the most wo~erfal
people I know, aot everyone iq the Kana coffee industry trustworthy, harvest, and
free from the corraption of greed.
Z 3.11
Comm. NPi~
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