HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0997.003 2012-2014 Aloha Council Members, P/AWESC
My name is Mila Horak
Lupo i 1 7
Thank you for hearing our testimony on these important measures to encourage truthful labeling.
I'm here with my husband Ron, we have an 8 acre coffee farm in Honaunau, and we strongly support
Brenda Ford's two resolutions.
I wanted to tell you a story...
Two months ago, we had a wonderful family from India come visit our farm. They came to Hawaii for
vacation, and bought a bag of Kona coffee in town the week before visiting us. When I offered them a
cup of Kona coffee on their visit, they declined and I was puzzled and asked "don't you drink coffee?You
are at a Kona coffee farm!"
And the father said, "to tell you the truth, we tried a bag, and it wast that good." He told me had grown
up staying on his aunties coffee plantation in India, and he said her coffee pretty good, he's had better, but
the Kona wasn't good tasting.
So I got suspicious, knowing how good our coffee is and asked "did you buy 100% Kona?" and he said
"I think so, it said `Kona blend' on the package."
I replied, "oh, then it could be from anywhere, it's only 10% Kona beans... no wonder you didn't like it!"
"O000h", he said, "I thought it was a blend of Kona coffee from many farms in the Kona area!"
And I said, "no, unfortunately it could be from anywhere in the world, even India"
"So" he replied "I had to travel all the way here to Hawaii to drink my aunties Indian coffee? We could
have stayed home!"
And we laughed. Then I persuaded him to try a cup of%100 kona coffee, and he loved it. He didn't put
cream in it (first time ever enjoying coffee black for him with a sensitive stomach). Everyone else had to
have a cup too, and they all agreed it was the best coffee they had ever tasted.
This really happened and illustrates how frequently people, especially visitors, are misled to believe Kona
coffee is what they are buying and drinking, when in fact its not. It hurts us farmers who try to produce
the best tasting product possible, putting out an honest effort, only to have our business and lively-hoods
negatively affected by confusing labeling. I would go so far as to say it also has a negative effect on our
tourism industry as well. Nobody likes to be misled. Thank you for listening.
COMTE CLERX
COUNTY OF BAWAIMI
RECE
Time 03,46-Pk By
Date"' 3E P 747—
WHcr- .5f
Comm. No. l _`
Ref. To: LET.
Ref. Date &P 16 2014