HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0799.004 2006-2008
Testimony in Favor of Resolution Number 417-07: Troth-in-Labeling for Kona
Coffee
Good morning. My name is Denny Coffinan, and I am the Vice Chair for West
Hawaii of the Hawaii County Democratic Party.
Thank you for providing me the opportunity to testify in support of Resolution
417-07. A Resolution requesting the State legislature to take action to secure
truthful labeling of Kona coffee.
Consumer protection is one of those government benefits that we do not notice
until it goes away; but when it does, we have food that makes us sick, toys that
contain lead paint, and "Hawaiian Classic Kona" coffee that is 90% imported.
Kona coffee fanners and the Democratic Party both believe that this labeling does
not meet the federal standard of being "truthful and not misleading." In 2006 the
Democratic Party of Hawaii at the Hawaii County convention and the State
convention approved resolutions that addressed truthful labeling of agricultural
products. Also in 2006, the Kona coffee farmers brought this labeling problem to
your attention, and you adopted Resolution Number 18-06 supporting our request
that the State Legislature remedy the situation.
In January of this year, identical bills were drafted and introduced in both houses
of the legislature. And Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 102, in plain
language, acknowledges that there is a problem. But did either body of the
Legislature act to resolve the problem? No! They did not even hold a hearing on
the bills. Instead the bills were disposed of out of public view; a study that is not
relevant to the fraud issue was commissioned, and conveniently, not funded. We
believe that this series of actions or inactions is disrespectful to all of us who are
seeking to reinstate appropriate consumer protections, rescue the reputation of
Kona coffee, and help protect the small farm agriculture that is so successful here
is Hawaii County.
We need to do better in 2008. When the legislature reconvenes, your approval of
this resolution will help us in holding our State legislators accountable. This
meaningful action by the County of Hawaii will send a strong message to the State
Legislators that the time has come stop to this fraud and protect the consumer.
Denny Coffman
Vice-Chair for West Hawaii
Hawaii County Democratic Party
77-258Ho'oka'ana Street Comm: No. ~qq L~
Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96740
322-5076 Ref. To3 h~ee -
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