“Best Agricultural Newsletter in Hawaii”
Newsletter of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association
September 2026
PO Box 5436 Kailua Kona Hawaii 96745 USA
www.konacoffeefarmers.org info@konacoffeefarmers.org
Contents
Welcome from President Peterson
Zoom- After Hurricane Lala: KCFA Farmers “Talk Story”- September 9
Replanting Uprooted Coffee Trees
Support for Hurricane Lala from SHAC
Florida-Grown Coffee
Save! Date of September 26 for KCFA Potluck
Can Coffee Interfere with your Medication?
Climate Study Identifies Biggest Threats to Arabica Coffee
Coffee and Sleep May Not Be the Nightmare Pairing We Think
Fertilizer Shortage Could Trigger a Dire Global Crisis in 2027
The Push for Novel Coffee Varieties
Small Ants May Gain Reproductive Boost While Protecting Coffee Crops
Study: Drinking Coffee Linked to Reduced Depression and Anxiety
Why More Specialty Coffee Roasters Don’t Buy From Smallholders
Study: The Bitter Truth About Coffee
Editor: Clare Wilson
WELCOME FROM PRESIDENT PETERSEN
Aloha KCFA Members,
It’s been quite a month here on our island. Hurricane Lala left a mark none of us will
forget anytime soon — sending torrents of water and blasting winds down the mountain,
cutting new paths through roads, farms, gulches, communities and leaving many in
North and South Kona and Kau facing real hardship. If you’re still digging out, repairing
damage, or simply catching your breath, please know you’re not alone. Farmer to
farmer ʻohana has been in rare form helping one another. We hear so many wonderful
reports of neighbors helping neighbors. It just seems like we continue to get setbacks
but with patience, steady hands, and shared experiences, we seem to get through the
added work, especially now when we are picking.
Even with all this, the conversations that shape the future of Hawai‘i coffee haven’t
slowed down. The proposed 51% federal labeling requirement continues to spark
strong feelings across different sectors of the coffee community. It’s an important
moment, and KCFA will keep working to ensure that any label carrying the word
“Hawaiian” truly reflects the hard work of Hawai‘i farmers.
We were also fortunate to welcome Congresswoman Jill Tokuda and Senator Mazie
Hirono, along with the Chairs of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.
Their visits to West Hawaii allowed the Ag Committee Chairs and other members a
firsthand look at what our farmers are dealing with — from storm impacts to long-
standing issues of labeling, pests, marketing, research support, and agricultural
resilience. Their willingness to tour farms, listen, ask questions and learn means a lot as
they make decisions in Congress.
As we move forward, let’s keep leaning on each other, celebrating the strength of our
farming community, and protecting the legacy of Kona coffee.
Mahalo nui loa,
Mark Petersen, KCFA President
After Hurricane Lala: KCFA Farmers “Talk Story”-September 9 at 1 pm ZOOM
A Community Conversation for Farmers
The Kona Coffee Farmers Association (KCFA) invites farmers and members of our agricultural community to join us for a Zoom conversation following Hurricane Lala.
This is a chance to come together, talk story, and share what you experienced.
We’d like to hear from farmers about:
- What you experienced during and after Hurricane Lala
- How your farm, crops, equipment, roads, or other resources were affected
- Challenges you are facing now
- What you learned from the experience
- How farmers helped one another and supported the community
- What resources or assistance would be helpful going forward
- Ideas for preparing our farms and farming community for future storms
There is no formal presentation planned. The purpose is to listen, share experiences, and learn from one another.
Every farm and every experience is different, and we hope this conversation will give our farmers a chance to be heard and help KCFA better understand the needs of our agricultural community.
Please join us and bring your stories, concerns, questions, and ideas.
Date: Wednesday September 9th
Time: 1 pm HST
Location: Zoom
Zoom Link: To Join Zoom Meeting on September 9 (just click link below)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
We look forward to gathering together, checking in with one another, and hearing from our farmers.
After the storm, we come together.
REPLANTING UPROOTED COFFEE TREES
The winds and torrential rains of Hurricane LaLa uprooted coffee trees across Kona, Kaʻū, Wood Valley, and Hōlualoa. Many trees were lifted by wind after soils became saturated and soft; others were washed out entirely by fast-moving runoff. Fortunately, research from USDA-ARS, UH-CTAHR, ECHOcommunity, FAO, and USDA NRCS shows that many uprooted trees can survive if managed correctly in the first few days.
This guide summarizes the most effective, science-based practices to help growers maximize survival of replanted coffee trees.
1. Assess Whether the Tree Can Be Saved
Studies from the USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) indicate that trees
with at least 50% of their root system intact have the highest chance of recovery. Trees
with major structural root breakage at the trunk or severe bark loss (more than 25% of
circumference) have significantly lower survival rates. UH-CTAHR’s coffee
management guidance emphasizes evaluating root-zone saturation, sediment
deposition, and trunk integrity before deciding to replant.
Sources: USDA-ARS hurricane recovery guidance; UH-CTAHR coffee management resources.
2. Protect Exposed Roots Immediately (First 24–48 Hours)
Research from ECHOcommunity’s Tropical Tree Recovery Notes shows that exposed roots begin dying within hours. The most important action is to keep roots moist, shaded, and cool.
Recommended emergency steps:
- Cover roots with wet burlap, moist soil, or shade cloth
- Avoid direct sun exposure
- Do not wash roots aggressively — fine feeder roots are essential for reestablishment Source: ECHOcommunity hurricane recovery notes
3. Right and Anchor the Tree Properly
ECHOcommunity and FAO hurricane-response manuals provide detailed guidance for righting and stabilizing uprooted perennial crops.
Righting
- Lift the tree gently, keeping the root ball intact
- Rotate it back to its original orientation
- Avoid twisting or shaking the root mass
Anchoring
Because saturated soils lose structural strength for weeks, anchoring is essential.
USDA NRCS recommends:
- Anchoring in three directions
- Using soft, non-abrasive ties
Maintaining support for 12–18 months.
Sources: ECHOcommunity tropical tree recovery; FAO post-disaster horticultural recovery; USDA NRCS windthrow stabilization guidance.
Replant Correctly: Depth, Soil, and Drainage
USDA-ARS and UH-CTAHR emphasize replanting at the same depth the tree originally grew. Too deep increases rot risk; too shallow reduces stability.
Backfill
- Use native soil mixed with coarse material to improve drainage
- Gently tamp soil to remove air pockets
Drainage
Clearing drainage channels is essential. Waterlogged soils limit oxygen availability and root recovery.
Sources: USDA-ARS storm recovery guidance; UH-CTAHR soil management bulletins.
5. Prune to Balance Root–Shoot Ratio
After uprooting, the root system cannot support the full canopy. Research from UH- CTAHR and FAO shows that reducing canopy volume lowers transpiration stress and improves survival.
Recommended pruning:
- Remove broken or heavily defoliated branches
- Reduce canopy by 15–25%
- Retain healthy laterals with intact nodes
Sources: UH-CTAHR coffee pruning guides; FAO perennial crop recovery manuals.
6. Support Recovery With Nutrition and Foliar Feeding
Post-storm fertility research from USDA-ARS Pacific Basin indicates:
- Use light, split applications of nitrogen and potassium
- Rely on foliar feeding until soils drain
- Avoid heavy fertilization early — soft tissue is disease-prone
- Micronutrients (boron, zinc, magnesium) support new leaf flush and chlorophyll formation.
Source: USDA-ARS coffee nutrition and stress-response research.
7. Monitor for Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) During New Flush
New leaf flush 1–3 weeks after replanting is highly susceptible to CLR. UH-CTAHR recommends:
- Protect new flush in blocks with prior CLR history
- Maintain airflow through pruning
- Repeat protection if wet conditions persist
Source: UH-CTAHR CLR management bulletins.
Summary Checklist for Growers
- Protect roots within 24–48 hours
- Right the tree gently; avoid twisting
- Anchor in three directions
- Restore drainage
- Prune canopy by 15–25%
- Use light, split nutrition
- Monitor for CLR during new flush
click > Literature Cited
SUPPORT FOR HURRICANE LALA DAMAGE from SHAC
As we begin another week, our thoughts remain with the coffee growers, families, and communities in Kaʻū who are continuing to recover from the impacts of Hurricane Lala.
We know recovery does not happen overnight. To our members and industry partners in Kaʻū: we are here for you. HCA is continuing to share available resources and is listening closely to how we can best support the community in the weeks and months ahead.
How Can We Help?
Resources for impacted producers
Coffee and macadamia nut producers who experienced tree losses may be eligible for assistance through the https://www.fsa.usda.gov/
Producers are also strongly encouraged to report agricultural impacts from Hurricane Lala through the Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi Disaster Response Dashboard. Documenting losses helps build an accurate picture of the impact to Hawaiʻi agriculture and can help support requests for state and federal disaster assistance.
If your farm was impacted, please report your losses and explore available assistance—even if you are still determining the full extent of the damage.
FLORIDA-GROWN COFFEE GETS ITS FIRST SERIOUS FIELD TEST
https://tinyurl.com/mr46c5fc
…” Testing Florida Arabica
The trial plots were at the university’s Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead, about 30 miles south of Miami. Researchers germinated 48 arabica plants in 2022 and transplanted them to TREC in May 2023. Fruit first set in 2024, but the trees were not yet mature enough to generate representative data, so the study’s yield, quality and economic analysis came from the 2025 harvest.
Typica, among the most historically important arabica varieties, was included for cup quality despite typically modest yields. The study also tested three less common cultivars chosen for traits such as disease tolerance and yield: Fronton, Limani and Obatã….”
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SAVE THE DATE! KCFA’s FALL POTLUCK!
KCFA’s fall potluck will be on September 26th from 2 to 7 PM at the Higashihara Park’s pavilion. Plan to join us for an afternoon of camaraderie and yummy food.
CAN COFFEE INTERFERE WITH YOUR MEDICATION?
https://tinyurl.com/2mm625yv
“From common cold tablets to antidepressants, caffeine’s impact on the body goes far beyond a quick energy boost. Tea also contains caffeine but not in the same concentrations as coffee, and doesn’t seem to affect people in the same way. Here’s what you should know about how coffee can interfere with your medications — and how to stay safe….”
CLIMATE STUDY IDENTIFIES BIGGEST THREATS TO ARABICA COFFEE
https://tinyurl.com/3nk4afa7
” As climate change throughout the tropics redraws the map of where the sensitive arabica species may be ideally grown, researchers in China recently set out to identify the most impactful threats over time. Drawing from 30 years of climate and coffee yield data across 29 major producing counties in China’s principal coffee-growing region, Yunnan, the study found that frost is the most damaging climate threat to coffee yields, followed by drought. Surprisingly, heat stress came in a distant third.
As geographical shifts to higher latitudes are proposed as a warming climate adaptation, understanding coffee yield response to climate stressors in marginal growing areas is crucial,” the study authors wrote. “Our results could enrich understanding of climate-coffee yield interactions and underscore the need to focus on chill stress in potential coffee-growing regions under future climate change….”
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COFFEE AND SLEEP MAY NOT BE THE NIGHTMARE PAIRING WE THINK
https://tinyurl.com/ynyz49ba
“Coffee may not be the enemy of sleep that it is often made out to be. In a large Swedish study of middle-aged adults, habitual coffee drinking showed little meaningful relationship with self-reported sleep quality or daytime sleepiness, although some statistically significant associations did emerge.
Published in PLOS One, the cross-sectional study examined coffee habits and sleep-related measures among 25,381 adults ages 50 to 64 from the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study.
The authors concluded that habitual coffee consumption showed a “very low association” with sleep patterns, while the broader correlation with perceived sleepiness was described as “negligible.”
“According to our analyses, different degrees of coffee consumption, confirmed by statistical association with previously reported genetic variants, showed very low association with estimated patterns of sleep habits or perceived daytime sleepiness,” the authors wrote….”
FERTILIZER SHORTAGE COULD TRIGGER A DIRE GLOBAL CRISIS IN 2027
https://tinyurl.com/4s526n9r
“Six months after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the global fertiliser supply chain has collapsed in key regions, creating a dual crisis of physical shortages and soaring costs. Since March, commodity intelligence platform CropGPT has directly surveyed thousands of farmers every month, across eight countries to measure the impacts of the crisis. The data shows a potentially catastrophic impact on global food and beverage – coffee included – supplies and prices in 2027.
CropGPT’s findings reveal that only 43% of farmers surveyed got everything they needed, with farmers in India – which feeds more people than any other country in the world – reporting they have been short of fertiliser for six months. In the Ivory Coast only 6% of coffee farmers were fully supplied in August, while 40% could not get any fertiliser at all. El Nino is forecast to peak just as the effects of fertiliser shortages and thinner harvests come in, multiplying the threat to global agriculture.
CropGPT’s data also unveils a stark economic divide. Where crop prices are strong, such as coffee, farmers have paid more and carried on. Where they are weak, farmers have cut back or stopped buying fertiliser. Farmers who cannot obtain fertiliser face yield loses of up to 50%.
Now, with survey data finding that growers are actively cutting planting areas, abandoning crops, and substituting inputs, CropGPT is warning of a potentially massive impact in 2027, with inflated food prices and global food shortages….”
THE PUSH FOR NOVEL COFFEE VARIETIES
https://tinyurl.com/mrfa7b32
“Key takeaways
• Gesha has returned to dominance at recent coffee competitions.
• Price volatility has slowed the wider release of new coffee varieties.
• Competitors now blend liberica with high-scoring lots.
• Climate resilience is increasing investment in overlooked species like liberica and excelsa.
• Specialty coffee is always chasing “new” and exciting varieties, and competitions are the clearest signal of where its search is heading. For years, the highly prized Gesha dominated the World Barista and Brewers Cup Championships, selected for its high cup scores and flavour complexity.
The early 2020s, however, marked a turning point. “Rediscovered” coffees began appearing on the world stage. At the 2021 World Barista Championship (WBC), more finalists presented with eugenioides, a lesser-known Coffea species prized for its sweetness and unconventional tasting notes, than with Gesha.
The trend continued. At the 2023 event, Gesha shared the stage with several “new” varieties, including Pink Bourbon, Ombligon, and Typica Mejorado. The winner, Boram Um, even blended Gesha with Pink Bourbon, a sign that these coffees were challenging the variety’s long-held dominance.
Yet the last two years show the trend is reversing. Almost every 2025 WBC finalist used Gesha, and all but one of the 2026 World Brewers Cup finalists did the same, suggesting a return to familiar flavour profiles.
More telling still, competitors are now blending liberica, a historically overlooked species, with Gesha rather than building their presentations around exclusive varieties.
With prices still volatile and the climate crisis worsening, the appetite for novelty is being redirected toward coffees the industry already knows. For coffees like liberica and excelsa, it’s a chance for reinvestment….”
SMALL ANTS MAY GAIN REPRODUCTIVE BOOST WHILE PROTECTING COFFEE CROPS
https://phys.org/news/2026-07-
“Ants are known allies in the fight against coffee pests known as coffee berry borers. Now, a discovery made by Jonathan “Jonno” Morris while he was a University of Michigan graduate student has revealed there may be a new dimension to this protection.
Ecologists have known that large ants eat the berry borers and stymy the pests’ efforts to colonize coffee plants. Small ants can root the borers out of the homes they make for themselves in coffee fruits. Morris has for the first time observed that small ant species can then use the habitats in the fruits for their own reproduction.
“In terms of pest control, this is primarily a good thing because it’s benefiting the ants in terms of their populations and fitness. The ants gain this reproductive benefit that’s originally created by the coffee pest. And this might actually help to maintain more diverse ant communities directly on the coffee plants,” said Morris, who made this discovery as a graduate student at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability, or SEAS….”
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STUDY: DRINKING COFFEE LINKED TO REDUCED DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
https://tinyurl.com/3fsw724b
“In a new observational study that tracked nearly half a million adults for more than a decade, people who reported drinking two to three cups of coffee per day had a lower risk of developing mood and stress disorders than people who drank large amounts of coffee or no coffee at all.
The pattern held whether the coffee was caffeinated, decaffeinated, ground or instant.
The study, from researchers affiliated with Fudan University in China, drew on health data from 461,586 participants in the UK Biobank — all free of mood and stress disorders at the start — and followed them for a median of 13.4 years.
Over that period, 18,220 new cases of mood disorders and 18,547 new cases of stress disorders were identified in hospital inpatient records, providing a large dataset for analysis.
In the study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the researchers outline a J-shaped relationship between daily coffee intake and mental health risk. Risk was lowest at two to three cups per day, higher among non-drinkers and higher again at heavier intake levels….”
WHY MORE SPECIALTY COFFEE ROASTERS DON’T BUY FROM SMALLHOLDERS
https://tinyurl.com/2mys97nw
• “Larger, established producers are often easier for roasters to buy from because the infrastructure, logistics and relationships are already in place.
• Around 12.5 million farms produce coffee globally, the vast majority of them smallholders, while roasters can work directly with only a fraction.
• For many roasters, sourcing comes down to balancing quality, price and accessibility – not simply finding the best coffee available.
The coffee industry prides itself on celebrating diversity at origin. New producers, emerging regions and exceptional coffees are often held up as examples of an industry that rewards quality above all else. Yet when it comes to sourcing decisions, many roasters repeatedly buy from the same established producers.
The reason is rarely that smallholders are incapable of producing exceptional coffee. More often, it comes down to business. Established farms typically have the infrastructure, logistics and export relationships already in place to make their coffees easier to access – qualities that matter alongside quality and price when roasters are making purchasing decisions.
This presents an important challenge for specialty coffee. If buying from larger, more established producers is often simply easier, how can smallholders become equally straightforward for roasters to work with?…”
STUDY: THE BITTER TRUTH ABOUT COFFEE
https://tinyurl.com/4y2wffh8
“For better or worse, one of the defining tastes of coffee — the life-giving elixir that makes the world go ’round — is bitterness.
A new study involving researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers a molecular-level look at why coffee tastes bitter, showing how the body detects certain bitter compounds in the cup.
Published April 20 in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, the research shows how the human bitter taste receptor TAS2R43 recognizes caffeine and other compounds naturally found in roasted, brewed coffee.
The work is not a tasting trial or a brewing study. Instead, it is structural biology.
The team used cryo-electron microscopy — a technique that flash-freezes biological molecules and uses electrons to create detailed 3D images — to capture the structure of TAS2R43. The receptor has been identified as key for detecting coffee’s bitterness, including from caffeine, cafestol and mozambioside…”
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