The Independent Voice
Newsletter of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association
August 2023
PO Box 5436 Kailua Kona Hawaii 96745 USA
www.konacoffeefarmers.org info@konacoffeefarmers.org
Contents
Message from President Petersen
KCFA Potluck Event
CBB Blog in ”Entomology Today”
Does “Wakefulness” Depend on Caffeine
Vertical Selection for Kona Coffee Pruning
Exposure to Coffee Roasting Chemicals
26 Coffee Hacks for a Better Cup
Coffee Meant Freedom
Pesticide Disposal
Guatemala Coffee Report
EUDR & the Int’l Coffee Supply Markets
PCCA: Stolen Coffee Alert
El Nino Will Brew Up Economic Storm
Recipe: Cold Coffee Cubes
Editor – Clare Wilson
Message from the President
Aloha Coffee Farmers,
The rains have slowed down on my farm this past week, but I noticed a few yellow spots forming on some of my coffee leaves reminding me I’ve got to stay diligent about leaf rust management. I am also thankful that hurricane Calvin did not develop into a major disaster on Hawaii Island. But last week a fun evening was had at the Coffee Farmers gathering at Kahalu`u Beach Park, it was a relaxed nice time to talk with others. There was not a formal program, but we did ask farmers to add to a list of things they would like to see KCFA do. The list will be used to help inform the board’s strategic planning effort. We also spent a few moments talking about the Kona Coffee Cultural festival and introduced new farmers, some of whom were looking to meet experienced farmers willing to share experiences. The shared food was very tasty. We hope to plan another gathering this fall for a short break from coffee harvest and hope you can make it. I’d like to thank those I got a chance to visit with and those I missed. I hope we can talk next time. Hope you have a productive coffee harvest.
Mahalo nui loa!
KCFA Potluck Event
On July 26th, the KFCA hosted its first social gathering since the pandemic. The event’s main goal was to provide the coffee farmers and its supporters, an opportunity to connect or re-connect and socialize with other like-minded persons. Most of us are busy taking care of our farms and seldom have the opportunity to share our issues or solutions with others who could potentially help or at least understand what we are facing daily. Nearly 50 farmers and coffee supporters showed up for the event with more food than we could ever eat in just a couple of hours. The atmosphere was very pleasant with participants enjoying the camaraderie. KCFA signed up 4 new members at the event and Miss Aloha, Kaili Yuen joined to support us and to promote the Miss Kona Coffee organization. If you attended the event and enjoyed it, please help to spread the word. Word of mouth is the best and cheaper advertisement method. We are planning our next event for the fall despite being picking season. Most of us will need a break at one point and we hope to achieve that with the fall gathering. If you have any suggestions regarding our next event, feel free to reach out to our Social & Events Committee chair, Franck Carisey, CariseyFranck@
We are open to suggestions but keep in mind our limited budget. We will make sure to have enough beer for everyone next time. Until then, wishing you all a great picking season.
CBB Blog Post in “Entomology Today”
As we enter the harvest season, Dr. Melissa Johnson of ARS PBARC would like growers to know that “findings demonstrate that frequent and efficient harvesting is an effective and economically viable alternative to frequent pesticide applications” for control of CBB.
Read her blog post here. https://entomologytoday.org/
Study – Coffee’s “Wakefulness” Effect doesn’t Depend on Caffeine
https://www.comunicaffe.com/
“Portuguese scientists studied coffee-drinkers to understand whether coffee’s wakefulness effect is dependent on the properties of caffeine, or whether it’s about the experience of drinking coffee. “There is a common expectation that coffee increases alertness and psychomotor functioning,” said Prof Nuno Sousa of the University of Minho, corresponding author of the study in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience and Field Chief Editor of the journal…”
Vertical Selection for Kona Coffee Pruning
past KCFA Coffee Talk presentation – Vertical Selection
with Bob Smith and Bob Nelson
Purpose: To select vigorous shoots to insure high yielding verticals for the crop in 3 years. The process of pruning opens up the light and growth space for new shoots.
GOAL: Select 3-4 strong shoots
METHOD:
- Start at the base of the tree and work up, removing every shoot that you know you do not want.
- Remove all aberrant shoots like the ones that have a flat ribbon like growth.
- At this point- the selection process is a matter of choosing shoots that are spaced as far apart as possible
- If your pruning method is the Multiple Vertical system, remove any laterals that are growing over the shoots. (The Beaumont/Fukunaga method already has a clear stump.) New shoots must be free and clear for maximum space and sunlight.
HINTS:
- Shoots that are growing close to the prune line usually make the strongest connections.
- Every selected shoot should be able to bend over without breaking.
- Although 3 new verticals is the goal; selecting 4 is good insurance as banana moths sometimes damage young shoots.
26 Coffee Hacks to Know for a Better Cup
https://tinyurl.com/2p8umxds
”…Buy quality coffee beans for quality coffee. It goes without saying that quality coffee beans equals quality coffee. Understandably, budgets and busy schedules can lead one to compromise on quality, but just know that the coffee of your dreams is always within reach, and you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy it. There are signs that indicate a great coffee. One indicator to look for is oiliness, which means the bean has been over-roasted. The beans should be crack and blemish-free. Check the package for how the beans are sourced — reputable coffee brands typically have special certifications…”
Study – Exposure to Coffee Roasting Chemicals and Damaged Lungs
https://www.comunicaffe.com/
“…More recently, coffee roasters exposed to high concentrations of diacetyl during the roasting process have experienced similar lung problems. While previous cases involved long-term, high-level exposure, this study aimed to determine if low-level, short-term exposures could have comparable effects
By Peter Young
© 2023 Ho‘okuleana LLC
https://imagesofoldhawaii.com/
“ Kona was, at one time, the largest single area outside the sugar plantation system that so dominated the history of modern Hawaii.
In the late 19th century, Kona gained a reputation as a ‘haven’ for immigrants who broke their labor contracts with the islands’ sugar plantations.”
Pesticide Disposal
The Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture has resurrected a program for the safe disposal of pesticides. As we know, unsafe disposal of hazardous materials has a lasting environmental impact on water, land, and public health. The improper storage of pesticides and any hazardous material can become very problematic over time as containers deteriorate and even severe weather events provide threats to safe storage. At this time, the program is only available on Oahu but will roll out to other islands as soon as acceptable sites are identified. The program will require a participant to be registered with the disposal company, EnviroServices and Training Center, and limits the total to 250 pounds at no charge. Amounts in excess of that limit will be eligible for disposal at a discounted fee. The program is not available to homeowners since other programs address their needs. Stay tuned for future developments.
Guatemala Coffee Report: Labor Shortages & Higher Costs
https://dailycoffeenews.com/
“Migration and remittances have contributed to lower labor availability, particularly in the agricultural sector where labor is particularly strenuous, and some planted areas have been abandoned, especially in Huehuetenango and Alta Verapaz,” the report states. “Production costs increased 60 percent and few farmers can afford specialized labor to identify and harvest only red mature cherries, reducing overall quality.”
8 Ways the EUDR is Likely to Affect Intl Coffee Supply Markets
EUDR (EU Regulation for Deforestation-Free Supply Chains) “…Coffee production is estimated to drive around 100,000 hectares of deforestation globally every year.
The EU imports around 50% of the world’s coffee beans, so about half of all smallholder farms — more than 6 million farms — will have to have their boundaries mapped in order to export to the EU. The GPS data from each of those farms then has to be aligned with maps that show forest cover on December 31, 2020, and verified as not connected to forest loss…”
PCCA: Stolen Coffee Alert
July 12, 2023
Please be advised that the Pacific Coast Coffee Association has been notified that a domestic trailer load of Brazil Green Arabica coffee was recently stolen in the Bay Area – California. Please contact the Association at (925) 858-2257 or by email at pcca@paccoffee.com should you have any information regarding this coffee. Thank You.
20 Super Sacks Brazil Arabica Coffee loaded in a White 53 Foot Trailer
Bag markings include: 002/4600/6261
El Nino will Brew Up Potent New Economic Storm
https://tinyurl.com/33m5jtsm
“ Just when you thought it was safe to hope interest rates might soon peak, along comes more bad news. It looks likely that the El Nino weather phenomenon has returned, according to both the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Its appearance usually results in, or exacerbates, floods, heatwaves, water scarcity and wildfires, especially in the southern hemisphere. The damage these inflict on crops and infrastructure is inflationary, putting pressure on central banks to tighten monetary policy. If climate change makes such events stronger and more frequent, supply shocks will become embedded.”
KCFA
Like what you read here each month? If you’re not a current member of KCFA, please click here and join us at the Farmer, Supporter, or Business level.
Recipe – Cold Coffee Cubes
Keep your iced coffee cold without watering down the flavor.
Brew a batch of coffee, let it cool, then pour into an ice cube tray in the freezer.
Once frozen, use the coffee cubes instead of regular ice with chilled coffee. Enjoy!
Recipes Wanted! If any of you have recipes that you would like to share, please submit them to the editor: 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.
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
