Minutes
Kona Coffee Farmers Association
Board Meeting
November 16, 2010
Meeting was convened by President Bruce Corker at 4:07 PM.
Present: Board members Mary Lou Moss, Joan E. Rowe, Michele Joven, and Colehour Bondera
Absent: Board members Ray Anders, Tom Butler, Deb Sims, Kathy Wood, Jason Stith, and Mary Lake.
There not being a quorum, normal business of the Board was not conducted.
Consideration of the Minutes of the October Board meeting was deferred.
President Corker read a report of Acting Treasurer Karen Kemp that the KCFA bank balance as of October 31, 2010 was $19,112.25. No action was taken on the report.
The Parmigiano-Reggiano Award, presented to Colehour Bondera on behalf of Kona Coffee and the KCFA, was noted. Colehour will present a Coffee Talk on December 1 to share further information about Terre Madre, other events, and the award.
Special Report: Nancy Griffith reported on the mediation of a dispute over the sale of Kona coffee parchment by two KCFA members through the co-op Nancy organized. Buyer requested and received samples of the parchment prior to offering a price. Buyer later claimed the parchment delivered was not of the same quality and reduced the price. Nancy had reserved a portion of each sample submitted. Upon examination, members present at the meeting found the samples to be of excellent quality. Dispute was settled by mediation, and sellers were paid some portion of their original price. Members are urged to be cautious and “to know your buyers” before entering into contracts with them.
CBB Committee: KCFA formed a CBB Committee consisting of Ray Anders, Michele Joven, Bob Smith, Page Trygstad, Maria da Silva, and Bruce Corker. The CBB Committee drafted a Board Resolution regarding emergency funding for CBB in the amount of $500,000 to fund a 3-year position for an entomologist in Kona, to fund a CTAHR staff position in Kona, and to fund faculty research on CBB control in other coffee growing regions. Board will be asked to vote on the resolution by e-mail. If approved, the resolution will be sent to the Legislature, with copies to KS/BE, HDOA, and various committees concerned with CBB
KCFA Testimony: Bruce will testify at the Plant & Animal Advisory Committee meeting in Honolulu on 11/17. Board supports Bruce’s position against declaration of “an immediate emergency”, although the KCFA representative on the CBB Advisory Committee reluctantly agreed to support an immediate emergency declaration. Declaration of an immediate emergency would allow the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to impose a quarantine on Kona green and to require methyl bromide fumigation or other pesticides be applied.
Kona Coffee Cultural Festival: Mary Lou Moss reported that KCFA made about $9,000 during the festival and had a successful dinner and auction.
Membership: Joan E. Rowe reported 273 paid KCFA members, including 214 farms.
Social events: Lisa Corker reported that a January tour of the Kona Brew Pub is planned with beer and pizza dinner.
Education: Colehour Bondera reported he will present the December 1 Coffee Talk.
Web Site: Cea Smith, web mistress, said she is reviving the “What’s Kona Worth?” page on the KCFA web site and seeks information on prices of cherry, parchment and green beans.
New Director of Hawaii Department of Agriculture: Colehour asked for support from farmers for the appointment of Bill Steiner, currently Head of the Department of Agriculture at UH-Hilo. Ken Love’s interest in the position was also noted. The HDOA Director should support the interests of small farmers and be able to administer a large organization effectively.
Meeting adjourned at 6:05 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Scarr, Acting Secretary.
