“Best Agricultural Newsletter in Hawaii”
Newsletter of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association
January 2026
PO Box 5436 Kailua Kona Hawaii 96745 USA
www.konacoffeefarmers.org info@konacoffeefarmers.org
Contents
Message from the President
New Years’ Resolutions for Kona Coffee Farmers
Investor Sues over Failed Kona Hills Project
Coffee Farm Things to Do – Dec to Feb
Coffee Pruning Workshop
Invitation to Participate in Hawaii Coffee Survey
Investment Firm Acquires Hawaii Coffee Company
2026 Coffee Orchard Crop Webinars
Coffee Trends of 2025
How Grinder Burr Design is Evolving
Brazilian Coffee Exports Down by 9.8 Billion Bags
Recipe: Coffee Braised Roast Beef
Editor: Clare Wilson
Message from the President
Aloha Coffee Farmers,
Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou!
As we step into 2026, Kona’s coffee community will see new challenges and opportunities. Our farms, our livelihoods, and our legacy face forces— from rising production costs and unpredictable weather to market forces that undervalues the product that carries our region’s name. Yet amid these challenges lies a truth: that when Kona coffee farmers work together, we are strong and can achieve important accomplishments.
In the recent past, there have been some powerful examples of what collaboration can achieve. Unity is not just an ideal, it is a tool for success.
But unity doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intention. It requires listening. It requires the humility to recognize that no single farm, no single family, and no single organization can carry the weight of this industry alone.
In 2026, we have an opportunity to strengthen the bonds that hold our farming community together. That means: Sharing knowledge freely, especially with new farmers who are still finding their footing. Coordinating advocacy, so our collective voice carries weight at the county, state and federal levels. Supporting transparent labeling and authenticity, ensuring that Kona coffee remains protected and respected. Celebrating each other’s successes, because every win for one farm is a win for all of us.
Unity doesn’t erase our differences — it elevates our shared purpose. We all farm in our own ways, on our own land, with our own histories. But we are bound by something deeper: a commitment to stewarding one of the world’s most iconic agricultural treasures.
As we begin this new year, I invite every farmer to reflect on what unity means for them. How can we show up for one another? How can we build trust? How can we ensure that the next generation inherits not just thriving farms, but a thriving community?
Let 2026 be the year we choose collaboration and shared purpose for Kona Coffee. Our land, our coffee, and our future will all be better because of it. One step to work toward this shared purpose is by meeting with other farmers at the Kona Coffee Symposium on February 24 at the Outrigger Resort and Spa. It is also a time to think about yourself or a neighbor to serve on our Board.
We wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year. May it bring you more joy, health, and quality coffee!
Mahalo nui loa!
KCFA President
NEW YEARS’ RESOLUTIONS FOR KONA COFFEE FARMERS
January is a natural moment for reflection — and for farmers, it is also a moment for
planning. As Kona coffee growers, we know that our land is more than a production
system. It is a living ecosystem shaped by years of culture, geology, and climate. And in
recent years, an awareness of farming with nature has developed as a powerful tool to
support a functional ecosystem while strengthening the long-term health of our farms.
This revived awareness is not a trend. It is an affirmation of principles that kūpuna
practiced intuitively: work with the land, not against it. Build soil instead of depleting it.
Support biodiversity instead of suppressing it. Create resilience instead of relying on
inputs.
Here are practical, achievable steps Kona coffee farmers can resolve for 2026:
1. Build Soil Through Organic Matter
Mulching with chipped wood, coffee pulp, or green waste improves water retention,
moderates soil temperature, and feeds microbial life. In a warming climate, this is one of
the simplest and most effective ways to protect your trees.
2. Integrate Native Plants Into the Farm Landscape
Native understory species and dryland forest trees support pollinators, stabilize soil, and
restore ecological function. Even small pockets of native vegetation can make a
meaningful difference.
3. Reduce Bare Ground
Bare soil is vulnerable soil. Cover crops, groundcovers, and strategic mulching reduce
erosion, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure. This is especially important on
steep slopes and older orchards.
4. Prioritize Soil Biology
Healthy soil biology reduces the need for fertilizers and improves nutrient cycling.
Compost teas, microbial inoculants, and reduced tillage all support a thriving soil
ecosystem.
5. Partner With NRCS and Local Conservation Programs
Many farmers do not realize how much support is available. NRCS programs can help
with include:
- Soil health planning
- Erosion control
- Native habitat restoration
- Water conservation
These programs are not just for large farms — they are for anyone committed to
stewardship.
6. Think Long-Term, Not Just Season-to-Season
Farming with mother nature is an investment. The benefits compound over time:
healthier trees, more stable yields, improved resilience to drought, and a landscape that
supports both agriculture and native biodiversity.
Kona’s coffee belt is a rare and precious place. Our volcanic soils, our elevation
gradients, and our cultural heritage give us responsibility and an opportunity to farm in a
way that honors the land while securing our future.
As we begin 2026, every farmer can resolve to adopt or expand a practice to make their
farm function better with the land. Small steps, taken consistently, create lasting
change. Together, we can build a farming community that is not only productive, but
regenerative, resilient, and deeply rooted in the natural systems that make Kona coffee
possible.
INVESTOR SUES OVER FAILED KONA HILLS PROJECT
https://tinyurl.com/nhjbm989
“A Florida agricultural lender has sued the operator of a Michigan retirement fund over a
failed investment in a large Kona coffee venture, alleging the fund and its partners
misled the lender about the project’s condition and prospects.
Filed in Polk County Circuit Court on Dec. 1, the complaint by Lakeland, Florida-based
AgAmerica Lending LLC targets the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of
Michigan (MERS) and other defendants connected to the Kona Hills Coffee project on Hawaii Island.
The suit alleges the defendants concealed pre-existing environmental, legal and
construction issues while obtaining two AgAmerica loans totaling $40 million. The
second loan was based on “positive updates” from the project partners, according to the
suit.
“However, in January 2025, AgAmerica was surprised to learn that there were serious
problems with the harvest and that tens of millions of dollars of additional capital would
be required to make the Kona Hills project successful,” the suit states….”
COFFEE FARM THINGS TO DO – DEC TO FEB
From CTAHR
Are you finished or nearly done harvesting for the season with very little fruit
remaining on the tree?
1. Strip pick all remaining green to ripe and raisined berries from the branches and
process or destroy this coffee to kill CBB and remove homes where they will
continue to reproduce.
2. Prune as soon as possible after strip picking. If stumping, strip picking may not
be necessary if flail mowing or chipping the branches. However, strip pick any
nurse verticals.
3. Submit leaf tissue samples or soil and leaf samples. Here are some options of
where to send the samples.
4. Spray with OxiDate or Badge to kill CLR spores.
5. Consider waiting until Feb. to spray Priaxor Xemium unless in a location where
winter is your rainy season. If so, then spray Priaxor no more than three weeks
after Badge or immediately after an OxiDate application.
6. Fertilize with a calcium based product and with an even-numbered fertilizer to
promote shoot and root growth. A past soil and leaf tissue analysis result may
help you determine if you need a fertilizer that increases soil pH or not. While
liming agents can sit on the soil surface, irrigation or rainfall is needed to move
granular fertilizers with nitrogen into the soil and to reduce N losses to the
atmosphere.
These recommendations are very general so if you have questions about your individual farm situation, please contact Andrea at andreak@hawaii.edu or call/text her at 415-604-1511. Farm visits can also be scheduled.
SAVE THE DATE
Coffee Pruning Workshop with Bob Smith and Bob Nelson
Morning of January 24, 2026 – Kainaliu
Invitation to Participate in Hawai’i Coffee Survey
Aloha,
The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity’s Market Analysis and News Branch (MANB) is conducting a statewide Hawaiʻi Coffee Industry Survey, in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (CTAHR), the Hawaiʻi Coffee Association (HCA), and the Kona Coffee Farmers Association (KCFA).
We kindly invite you to participate by completing the online survey linked below.
Your input is extremely valuable. The survey results will help us learn how Hawai‘i’s coffee industry is changing as a result of the New Coffee Labelling Laws, which could also help you with future planning and decision-making.
The survey will take approximately 10-20 minutes to complete, depending on your business operation, and all responses will remain confidential.
Survey link: https://forms.gle/
You may also scan the QR code below to access the survey:
Mahalo nui loa for your time and contribution to this important effort.
If you have any questions, please contact us at (808) 973-9593 or dab.manb@hawaii.gov.
Investment Firm Sojourner Acquires Hawaii Coffee Company
https://tinyurl.com/3mt8pmwt
“…The Hawaii Coffee Company acquisition involved participation from Los Angeles-based
holding and real estate company Anderson Holdings. With the deal comes the launch of SoJoe Coffee, a new holding company and investment platform focused on the packaged coffee sector.
“SoJoe Coffee represents a holding company which is actively seeking partnerships and
acquisitions with high-potential packaged and ready-to-drink coffee companies based in North America,” Sojourner said in an announcement of the acquisition.
Hawaii Coffee Company currently comprises four sibling brands. In 2000, Lion Coffee and Aloha Royal Kona Coffee merged to form the Hawaii Coffee Company. The merged company launched a tea brand in 2004 called Hawaiian Islands Tea, then partnered with chef Alan Wong in 2013 to launch another coffee brand, Royal Hawaiian.
According to the announcement from Sojourner, the company will continue to operate as Hawaii Coffee Company while maintaining milling, roasting, cafe and office facilities throughout the state. In its acquisition announcement, Sojourner notably described Hawaii Coffee Company as “a pioneer of flavored coffee in Japan.”
2026 Coffee & Orchard Crops Webinars
From CTAHR
Tuesdays @ Noon from January 27 to April 14, 2026
Speakers from USDA ARS PBARC, HARC, UH-CTAHR, Lokoea Farms, the
This is a free event and open to all, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Click on
https://www.hawaiicoffeeed.
7 Coffee Trends of 2025
https://tinyurl.com/mtve5wkf
“The coffee industry is constantly evolving and … a few key trends are starting to emerge. Representing consumer values and some exciting new ideas, here are seven trends we expect to see worldwide…”
1.Sustainable Coffee Sourcing
2. Rise of Coffee Craftmanship
3. Personalized Coffee
4. Health-Conscious Coffee
5. Coffee Cocktails
6. The Growth of Cold Brew and Nitro Coffee
7. Creating Community
How Grinder Burr Design is Evolving
https://tinyurl.com/yx2wznmp
“ Burrs are the powerhouse of any grinder, providing a consistent particle size distribution
to brew excellent coffee.
Baristas and prosumers constantly demand innovation with their grinders, and
manufacturers are responding by focusing on burr shape and design.
Materials and finishes are also becoming more important, prolonging equipment lifespan
and enhancing performance.
As burr design becomes more precise, customisable, and sophisticated, the potential to unlock new coffee experiences for both espresso and filter increases.
Today’s specialty coffee consumers and professionals demand nothing less than precision and consistency. As brewing techniques become more sophisticated and palates more discerning, the role of grinding technology has never been more critical.
Grinder manufacturers must keep pace with broader industry innovation, and burr design is often their primary focus. The shape, material, and size of burrs all have a huge impact on particle size distribution, dictating the quality of extraction and flavour.
As our understanding of extraction becomes increasingly scientific, the evolution of grinders becomes crucial to preparing better coffee. At the heart of this lies a fundamental truth: exceptional coffee begins with excellent burrs….”
Brazilian Coffee Exports Down by 9.8 Billion Bags
https://www.comunicaffe.com/
“…Looking at the major destination countries, the US remains, albeit by a small margin, the largest market for Brazilian coffee, with a volume of 5,042,002 bags, down 32.2% compared to the same period of 2024.
Germany follows closely behind, with exports to this country accounting for 5,003,339 bags (- 31%). Despite a decline of 21.7%, Italy remains Brazil’s third largest market with 2,912,325 bags, ahead of Japan (+17.5%) and Belgium (-47.5%). Also noteworthy is the sharp decline in the shipments to Spain (-25.7%), which is offset by a further increase in exports to China (+30.4%), now exceeding one million bags.
Over the past month, Brazilian exports to Germany increased by 28%, compared with sharp declines in of exports to the US (-62.7%), Belgium (-46.9%) and Italy (-38.8%). Meanwhile, Japan continued to grow (+9.2%)….”
Recipe: Coffee Braised Roast Beef
Ingredients:
1 cup cider vinegar
4 garlic cloves, crushed, divided
1 boneless beef chuck roast (4 to 5 pounds), trimmed
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 cup strong brewed coffee
1 cup beef broth
1 medium onion, sliced
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
Mashed potatoes
In a large shallow dish, combine vinegar and 2 garlic cloves. Add roast; turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight, turning occasionally.
Drain roast, discarding marinade. Pat roast dry; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place roast in a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker; add coffee, broth, onion and remaining 2 cloves garlic. Cook, covered, on low until meat is tender, 6-7 hours.
Remove roast and keep warm. Strain cooking juices, discarding onion and garlic; skim fat. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and cold water until smooth; gradually stir into slow cooker. Cook, covered, on high until gravy is thickened, about 30 minutes. Slice roast; serve with mashed potatoes and gravy.
RECIPES WANTED If any of you have recipes that you would like to share, please submit them to the editor: clarewilson98@gmail.com
Suggestion Box
Let us know what you would like to see in our newsletter. Suggestions on what to include or not. What could we do better? Let us know. Clarewilson98@gmail.com
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! >> Write to us. We welcome Letters to the Editor up to 150 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name and email address >> Email: info@KonaCoffeeFarmers.org with SUBJECT: Commentary.
