Happy Day for Kona Farmers

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Date: 20 Dec 2006 13:24:46
From:
Subject: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

I just learned that the County Resolution mandating 75% in a Kona
Blend to be called a "Kona Blend", on this island of Hawaii where Kona
is grown, passed:):):). Oh it was a tedious morning listening to 40
Testimonies and the blenders spoke strongly against it-'natch,but it
is a wonderful day for we farmers. (Along the lines of Napa Valley
wine etc. You must have a predominance of Kona and Napa Wine to call
it either name.) The County Resolution passed 8 to 1! Yippee!

Currently the State law which is the next step, says a Kona Blend
needs only 10% Kona to be called a Kona Blend. It just shows
soemtimes it all works out well when you are prepared and I did not
do the organizing but we all did what we were told and we have some
wonderful farmers and roasters etc. who worked hard and it was a win!

aloha to all,
cea
--smithfarms.com
farmers of pure kona
roast beans to kona to email

Date: 21 Dec 2006 19:45:59
From: Lavarock
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

beans@smithfarms.com wrote:
> I just learned that the County Resolution mandating 75% in a Kona
> Blend to be called a "Kona Blend", on this island of Hawaii where Kona
> is grown, passed:):):). Oh it was a tedious morning listening to 40
> Testimonies and the blenders spoke strongly against it-'natch,but it
> is a wonderful day for we farmers. (Along the lines of Napa Valley
> wine etc. You must have a predominance of Kona and Napa Wine to call
> it either name.) The County Resolution passed 8 to 1! Yippee!
>

Here is the just released Press Release. I was proud to be one of the 37
people speaking in support. One farmer was reduced to tears that she
felt so strongly about this. I also noted that the people speaking in
opposition complained that they had no prior notice of the vote, yet the
other 37 seemed to, and were well prepared to testify. This fight has
gone on for decades, so it is interesting to note that the big players
didn't already have documentation and preparations already. perhaps they
thought the "Good Old Boy" network would just ignore the farmers again.

NEW COUNTY COUNCIL RESOLVES TO

PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF KONA COFFEE

KAILUA KONA, HAWAII, DECEMBER 20, 2006 - The first session of the
new Hawaii County Council saw a historic resolution being passed by an
8-0 vote.

Resolution 18-06 to the Hawaii State Legislature to revise and
clarify Hawaii Revised Statute 486-120.6, recommending that any coffee
labeled "Kona Coffee Blend" shall have a minimum of 75% Kona Coffee and
should be labeled accordingly.

The Resolution also requires prominent identification on any
package of "Kona Coffee Blend” to include the percentage by weight of
any United States-grown coffee and in the case of foreign coffee to
include the country of origin and percentage by weight.

The Resolution was introduced by new Kona representative Brenda
Ford, and strongly supported by North Kona Representative Angel Pilago,
and South Kona/Kau representative Bob Jacobson. Also voting in favor of
the resolution were Dominic Yagong, J. Yoshimoto, Donald Ikeda, Emily
Naeole, and new Chairman Pete Hoffman. Stacy Higa of Hilo abstained.

Thirty seven people gave testimony in support, plus others had
sent in written testimony. Testimony in support came from many
individual members of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association, the Kona
Coffee Council, and the Kona County Farm Bureau. The organizations that
gave official testimony were the Kona Coffee Farmers Association
represented by Sandra Scarr and the Hawaii Democratic organization
represented by Pat Stolfa.

Four people spoke in opposition, they represented the Hawaii
Coffee Company, Captain Cook Coffee Company, Greenwell Farms, and Kona
Mountain Farm.

It was an emotional occasion for several of the speakers as they
spoke so passionately about the integrity of Kona coffee. Issues that
were raised included the economic damage being done to the Kona
reputation by the Kona name being used on coffee that contains only 10%
Kona and 90% foreign coffee of questionable origin. Testifiers made the
point repeatedly that the legislation does not ask blenders not to
blend, it simply asks them to choose a name for their blend that does
not include the name of Kona.

The four processors who testified all said they feared that such
legislation would cause a glut of Kona coffee. But the many cherry
farmers, estate farmers, consumers, and sellers stated that Kona coffee
is sold out completely every year and that they could sell far more of
it than they can grow. “Farming coffee in Kona is only viable because
of its high reputation and correspondingly high price”, said Ken
Sheppard, former Education Chair of the Kona Coffee Council. “The flood
of cheap blends using the Kona name will cause Kona to be considered a
commodity coffee instead of a specialty coffee and the price will drop.”

“Kona coffee farmers will now take their case to the State
legislature”, said KCFA president Cecilia Smith, “and ask for
protection of the Kona name as requested by this Resolution from the
Hawaii County Council. Famous agriculture products are well protected by
other states – Napa and Somona Wines, Vidalia Onions, Washington apples
and many more. It is time to put the same protection around one of
Hawaii’s signature crops.”

The Kona Coffee Farmers Association is a volunteer, non-profit,
community-based organization of coffee farmers with the mission to
promote and protect the economic interests of Kona coffee farmers who
grow and sell 100% Kona coffee and to seek greater legal protection of
the Kona coffee name.

### End ###

Date: 21 Dec 2006 19:51:15
From: Lavarock
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

Lavarock wrote:

>
> Here is the just released Press Release.

Here is part of the above release in the Pacific Business News

http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2006/12/18/daily40.html?jst=b_ln_hl

--

They said that someone has to live in Hawaii ad I raised my hand first!

Date: 21 Dec 2006 18:55:10
From: Danny
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

Date: 21 Dec 2006 18:21:26
From: Mathew Hargreaves
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

Hi Cea,

Its a good start and building a product identity. So, when will a
75% blend of Kona coffee and Napa Valley wine appear in Hawaii? And Napa
Wine can do a similar blend in the reverse quantites. Lets call on Ken
Fox to do the taste testing - he likes a good wine. I can here the
whining already. :-)

CHEERS...Matt

beans@smithfarms.com wrote:
>
> I just learned that the County Resolution mandating 75% in a Kona
> Blend to be called a "Kona Blend", on this island of Hawaii where Kona
> is grown, passed:):):). Oh it was a tedious morning listening to 40
> Testimonies and the blenders spoke strongly against it-'natch,but it
> is a wonderful day for we farmers. (Along the lines of Napa Valley
> wine etc. You must have a predominance of Kona and Napa Wine to call
> it either name.) The County Resolution passed 8 to 1! Yippee!
>
> Currently the State law which is the next step, says a Kona Blend
> needs only 10% Kona to be called a Kona Blend. It just shows
> soemtimes it all works out well when you are prepared and I did not
> do the organizing but we all did what we were told and we have some
> wonderful farmers and roasters etc. who worked hard and it was a win!
>
> aloha to all,
> cea
> --smithfarms.com
> farmers of pure kona
> roast beans to kona to email

Date: 21 Dec 2006 10:03:22
From: notbob
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

On 2006-12-20, beans@smithfarms.com <beans@smithfarms.com > wrote:
> I just learned that the County Resolution mandating 75% in a Kona
> Blend to be called a "Kona Blend".........

What a nice Christmas present. Good luck to you all on your efforts
at the state level. ;)

nb

Date: 21 Dec 2006 15:30:46
From: Steve
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

Date: 20 Dec 2006 17:49:12
From: Johnny
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

Date: 20 Dec 2006 18:55:50
From: Boron Elgar
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

On Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:24:46 -1000, beans@smithfarms.com wrote:

>I just learned that the County Resolution mandating 75% in a Kona
>Blend to be called a "Kona Blend", on this island of Hawaii where Kona
>is grown, passed:):):). Oh it was a tedious morning listening to 40
>Testimonies and the blenders spoke strongly against it-'natch,but it
>is a wonderful day for we farmers. (Along the lines of Napa Valley
>wine etc. You must have a predominance of Kona and Napa Wine to call
>it either name.) The County Resolution passed 8 to 1! Yippee!
>
>Currently the State law which is the next step, says a Kona Blend
>needs only 10% Kona to be called a Kona Blend. It just shows
>soemtimes it all works out well when you are prepared and I did not
>do the organizing but we all did what we were told and we have some
>wonderful farmers and roasters etc. who worked hard and it was a win!
>
>aloha to all,
>cea
> --smithfarms.com
>farmers of pure kona
>roast beans to kona to email

Great news, Cea. What a nice Christmas present.

Boron

Date: 20 Dec 2006 18:50:36
From: Craig Andrews
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

<beans@smithfarms.com > wrote in message
news:avgjo2legvl0jltlef4pm9odkbp6k9af55@4ax.com...
>I just learned that the County Resolution mandating 75% in a Kona
> Blend to be called a "Kona Blend", on this island of Hawaii where Kona
> is grown, passed:):):). Oh it was a tedious morning listening to 40
> Testimonies and the blenders spoke strongly against it-'natch,but it
> is a wonderful day for we farmers. (Along the lines of Napa Valley
> wine etc. You must have a predominance of Kona and Napa Wine to call
> it either name.) The County Resolution passed 8 to 1! Yippee!
>
> Currently the State law which is the next step, says a Kona Blend
> needs only 10% Kona to be called a Kona Blend. It just shows
> soemtimes it all works out well when you are prepared and I did not
> do the organizing but we all did what we were told and we have some
> wonderful farmers and roasters etc. who worked hard and it was a win!
>
> aloha to all,
> cea
> --smithfarms.com
> farmers of pure kona
> roast beans to kona to email

Congratulations Cea & Bob!! {:-) All the prayers hoping that this would
turn out RIGHT, came true!
A very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to you & Bob & related
families, & all the best in the coming new year!!
Cheers!
Sincerely,
Craig.

Date: 21 Dec 2006 06:17:37
From:
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

On Wed, 20 Dec 2006 18:50:36 -0500, "Craig Andrews"
<alt.coffee@deletethis.rogers.com > wrote:

>
><beans@smithfarms.com> wrote in message
>news:avgjo2legvl0jltlef4pm9odkbp6k9af55@4ax.com...

>
>
>Congratulations Cea & Bob!! {:-) All the prayers hoping that this
would
>turn out RIGHT, came true!
>A very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to you & Bob & related
>families, & all the best in the coming new year!!
>Cheers!
>Sincerely,
>Craig.

Thank you indeed for all of your prayers and good thoughts! It worked
magically and all your wonderful energy bounced into our Hawaii County
Council members and we had a successful outcome.

Yo can believe that we Kona Coffee Farmers are extra happy this
Holiday.

Thank you!!

warmest aloha,
cea
--smithfarms.com
farmers of pure kona
roast beans to kona to email

Date: 21 Dec 2006 16:32:55
From: Marshall
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 06:17:37 -1000, beans@smithfarms.com wrote:

>Thank you indeed for all of your prayers and good thoughts! It worked
>magically and all your wonderful energy bounced into our Hawaii County
>Council members and we had a successful outcome.

Cea, does the County Council have any power that extends beyond beans
sold in Hawaii County?

shall

Date: 21 Dec 2006 09:24:06
From:
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 16:32:55 GMT, shall
<mrfuss@ihatespamearthlink.net > wrote:

>On Thu, 21 Dec 2006 06:17:37 -1000, beans@smithfarms.com wrote:
>
>>Thank you indeed for all of your prayers and good thoughts! It
worked
>>magically and all your wonderful energy bounced into our Hawaii
County
>>Council members and we had a successful outcome.
>
>Cea, does the County Council have any power that extends beyond beans
>sold in Hawaii County?
>
>shall

No, but the next step is our State Legislature in ch and we plan to
be ready. Then after our Legislature makes a law, and *please* keep
your fingers crossed because the Big Buck Blenders reside near the
State Capitol (on another island), so...after our State does its job,
we can then approach Federal Legislation. That's our aim and that's
apparently the proper road.

Thanks again to all of you for your support. We can feel it!!!

Happy HOHOHO to all:)!

aloha,
Cea
--smithfarms.com
farmers of pure kona
roast beans to kona to email

Date: 20 Dec 2006 15:33:14
From: JulesG
Subject: Re: Happy Day for Kona Farmers

beans@smithfarms.com wrote:
> I just learned that the County Resolution mandating 75% in a Kona
> Blend to be called a "Kona Blend", on this island of Hawaii where Kona
> is grown, passed.....
> aloha to all,
> cea
> --smithfarms.com
> farmers of pure kona
> roast beans to kona to email

Congradulations. I guess there is no need do wish you a Merry Xmas....
I wish you SUCCESS ! These are principles that are worth fighting for.
I'm glad it's done.

Good luck !