The Independent Voice
“Best Agricultural Newsletter in Hawaii”
Newsletter of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association
August 2025
PO Box 5436 Kailua Kona Hawaii 96745 USA
www.konacoffeefarmers.org info@konacoffeefarmers.org
Contents
Message from President Petersen
51% At The Federal Level?
Ag Tax is changing. Learn more August 2nd-Webinair
Tariff and Hawaii-Grown Coffee
Transportation Cost Reimbursement
KCFA in the July 4th Parade
Meeting: Tree Health and Pests/Diseases
How Much Coffee is Too Much
July KCFA Potluck
Kona Coffee: the Path Forward
Burlap Bags in Stock
Coffee Nutrition – From Flower to Fruit
HCA’s Annual Conference
Kokua Kailua
Costa Rica’s Eco-Friendly Coffee Culture
Building Equity on More than Just Coffee
Coffee Parchment as Food for Tilapia
E-Nose to Trace Coffee Back to its Origin
Reminder: Agriculture Dedication Application
Editor – Clare Wilson
Message from President Petersen
Aloha Coffee Farmers,
I hope this message finds you all in good spirits as we head into a promising picking season. The rains seem to have eased, giving way to sunny skies—just what our trees and pickers needed.
July was a lively month for the Kona Coffee Farmers Association. Several of our members attended the Hawaii Coffee Association’s annual meeting, held at the Outrigger in Keauhou, which began on July 17th and featured two days packed with educational presentations spanning all facets of coffee cultivation and industry. Congratulations to our fellow farmers who took home honors in the cupping competition—your hard work and dedication to quality are an inspiration!
We also gathered at Kahaluu Beach Park for a wonderful evening of food and conversation (mostly about coffee, of course). The turnout was great, the setting beautiful, and the company even better as the sun set over the ocean. If you couldn’t join us this time, we hope you’ll make it to the next one. Huge thanks to our Events Committee for making it happen.
Another highlight was the Fourth of July parade down Ali‘i Drive, where a merry band of coffee farmers represented KCFA with pride. The crowd’s response was touching—many spectators enthusiastically expressed their love for Kona coffee. It was heartwarming and uplifting to feel that appreciation from our community.
We also hosted a booth at the Kokua Kailua Village Stroll. While we made some merchandise sales, our real focus was on educating tourists—sharing with them the story of where coffee comes from and how it’s grown. It’s a unique opportunity to connect people directly to the heart of Kona coffee country. We’ll be back for the stroll in August and September (third Sundays), and we’d love your help staffing the booth. If you’d like to answer questions and share your passion for Kona coffee, please let us know.
Your involvement is essential to a strong and thriving association. Thank you for your continued support and membership.
PURE KONA
Mahalo nui loa!
Mark Petersen, KCFA President
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51% at the Federal Level?
KCFA is very pleased to report that Senator Schatz is seeking to advance the state’s 51% coffee blending rules to a Federal standard. He has added the following language to the FY2026 Senate Ag Appropriations bill.
Bill S.2256 (page 127) SEC. 780. For purposes of applying the Federal Food Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), Hawaii grown or produced coffee shall contain at least 51 percent of coffee grown in Kona, Kau, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, or other areas of the State of Hawaii. Based on the region it is produced or grown, the common or usual names shall be Kona Coffee, Kau Coffee, Maui Coffee, Oahu Coffee, Kauai Coffee, or Hawaii Coffee.
The Senate committee report states that FDA will address this within 180 days of passage. The same report also drives $1.8 million to ARS (PBARC) for CLR research. If you open the Bill, or the Report, you can search for “coffee” in the PDF. Reports are always provided along with a Bill, so the Executive branch understands the committee’s intent. Report language is frequently more important than the bill itself, and carries the weight of law when a bill is passed.
Now, the heavy lifting will be to get this done on the House side when they reconcile the House and Senate versions of their Ag Approps bills. This language is not on the House side but Rep Tokuda is aware and is in support. This may not happen in 2025, with a messy congressional schedule, but KCFA will keep supporting this move towards better protections for our coffee at the Federal level.
Ag Tax is changing. Learn more Saturday, August 2nd-webinair
Must register in advance. Register Here
Come learn the facts about reducing property taxes with the County of Hawaiʻi Real Property Tax Office and let’s do ag! Learn about the three agricultural tax programs, how to file, and receive support completing paperwork on site. This class is being co-hosted by: University of Hawai’i, College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resilience; County of Hawai’i Department of Finance, Real Property Tax Division and County of Hawai’i Research & Development, Agriculture & Food Systems.
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Tariffs and Hawaii-Grown Coffee
Kona Coffee Farmers Warn Disastrous Trump Tariffs Will Harm American-Produced Coffee as Much as Imported Coffee
https://coffeetalk.com/daily-dose/top-news/07-2025/108016/
“…Coffee is a popular beverage in the US, with two-thirds of Americans drinking it daily. The US imported over 450,000 tons of unroasted coffee from Brazil in 2024, valued at nearly $2 billion. Hawaii is expected to produce just 12,040 tons of coffee cherries in the 2024-2025 season, which will shrink once the cherries are processed into beans. This production is not near the scale required to meet US demand, according to the National Coffee Association.
Hawaiian farmers don’t see much room to expand production significantly, constrained by land, labor, and climate. However, demand has plenty of space to drop, especially if consumers decide that their “affordable luxury” isn’t cost-effective anymore. Hawaii’s coffee farmers received about $21.90 per pound for green coffee in the 2024-2025 marketing year, but by the time that makes it to consumers, the best quality beans can cost even more. A pound of roasted coffee from Ka’awaloa Trail Farm in Big Island’s famed Kona coffee-growing region retails for $60. Even at a current record high in data going back to 1980, a pound of ground roast coffee in the US averaged just over $8 a pound….”
______________________________________________________________________
Transportation Cost Reimbursement
Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program (RTCP) for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Livestock Producers
Enroll by Sept. 30, 2025 to receive reimbursement ($$$) for a portion of the cost to transport agricultural commodities or inputs used to produce an agricultural commodity. Click here to review the RTCP factsheet.
-Andrea and Matt
KCFA Participation in the 4th of July Parade 2025
On July 4 in the late afternoon seven intrepid KCFA members got together in space number 13 of the aquatic center. We spent about an hour assembling PVC banner holders and decorating them. We all wore KCFA T-shirts or hats. When it was our turn we joined the parade.
We were so pleased and proud at how the crowd cheered as we marched by. The clapping and excitement got even louder when the broadcast booth would say who we were and what our mission was. It is our hope that the KCFA will march or have a float in future parades. The more our message/mission gets to the public, the better.
Meeting to Discuss Tree Health in Relation to Pests & Diseases
Cracking CLR with Local and Organic Approaches to Tree Health
August 20, 2025 • Wednesday- 2:00 – 4:00pm
Honaunau Rodeo Grounds County Park — 84-5134 Honaunau Road
Join experienced organic farmers and other involved parties regarding our focus on tree health as a means to live with pest and diseases, such as coffee leaf rust (CLR) in Kona coffee.
Highlights include:
• Farmer roundtable of insights
• Korean Natural Farming as a means
• Research to demonstrate results
• Local fertilizer as a foundation
• Broader large-scale organic experience/perspective
• Q&A throughout
No charge. Sign-in requested. Will begin on-time, so arrive early. Bathrooms are available. No RSVP required, however contact if questions: colemel2@gmail.com
Funded by CTAHR, working with PBARC and UH Manoa, and Korean Natural Farmers, with encouragement from Hawaii Organic Farming Association and Hawaii Farmers Union United
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How Much Coffee is Too Much
https://tinyurl.com/pj379duc
“As summer iced coffees turn into seasonal fall lattes, it can be easy to reach for an extra cup of coffee throughout the day for a jolt of energy, a mood boost or a sugary afternoon treat.”
“Along with a temporary pick-me-up, research has continued to show the longer-term health effects of coffee include a decreased risk of cancer, heart failure, Type 2 diabetes and even death. But there are a few caveats: Studies have also shown that high coffee consumption is linked to increased risk of dementia and stroke, as well as a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease among coffee drinkers with hypertension.”
July 2025 KCFA Potluck
Our quarterly potluck at Kahalu’u Beach Park was a lovely get-together. KCFA provided Kalua pork, cabbage, rice and water bottles. Our members rounded out the table nicely with their contributions. We even had some lovely “Kona Cola” created by a member that was delicious!
Everyone milled about and chatted with their fellow farmers. It was a welcome, relaxed event. We even sold some merchandise! Our next potluck will be in October – watch for the date in the September newsletter.
Kona Coffee: Qualities, Challenges, and the Path Forward
https://tinyurl.com/3t8utukb
“…Kona commands higher prices than many other coffee varieties.
But as an owner of a Kona coffee company, I’ve found that this premium price is not the result of luxury branding—it reflects the genuine challenges, meticulous craftsmanship and geographic limitations behind every bean. Kona coffee represents a unique intersection of quality, tradition and resilience. Here’s what that means for coffee producers and brands.”
…”In a world increasingly dominated by industrial scale and rapid production, Kona coffee companies should work to remain a symbol of craftsmanship, care and community. Small can still be significant—and authenticity never goes out of style.”
Burlap Bags in Stock
Time to start picking coffee!
Perfect for cherry, parchment or green storage. These are high quality Burlap coffee
bags and are extremely durable and help support the KCFA. Made from jute and not
treated with petrochemicals. Fully recyclable into the land when they reach the end of
their lifecycle.
They also make great crafts while promoting 100% Kona and KCFA.
NOTE: Bags are pickup only. We now have two pickup locations: South Kona or
Holualoa. You will be emailed with information on where to pick up the bags or
call 808-989-4883. Order here for $5.50> https://konacoffeefarmers.org/product-category/burlap-2/
“As Kona coffee farmers know well, the journey from flowering to cherry harvest is a delicate dance of biology, climate, and care. Nutrition plays a leading role in this process—not only in supporting fruit development, but also in sustaining long-term tree health and productivity. This article is a reminder of some of the key nutrients required during the coffee cycle, the role of trace minerals, and how enhancing soil microbial activity can reduce fertilizer dependence while improving nutrient availability…”
HCA’s Annual Conference, Trade Show and Cupping Competition
from CTAHR
Congratulations to all winners and participants of the Hawaii Coffee Association Cupping Competition! And a job well-done to the organizers, committees, volunteers, and exhibitors of the conference, trade show, and cupping events. We appreciate the invitation to be a part of this long-standing, informative event. Find the 2025 cupping results here.
Kokua Kailua
Kokua Kailua is a downtown Kona Stroll event held on the 3rd Sunday of each month from 1-6 PM on Ali’I Drive. Up to 50 vendors and organizations pay a fee to have a 10×10 space. KCFA has participated in four of these. We are there to interact with and educate the public about Kona coffee, while offering our logo merchandise for sale.
KCFA will be participating again in August and September. Members are invited to help man the booth. Your name, farm name, and website will be listed at the booth. You may get some future sales from volunteering to help. If you’d like to have more information, contact Sammi Piasecki via text: 203-217-5100
Why Costa Rica’s Eco-Friendly Coffee Culture is Thriving
https://youtu.be/dERRcGlcc2Y video en espanol
“Over 4,500 local farmers are part of Costa Rica’s largest coffee cooperative, CoopeTarrazú. The organisation offers its members fair prices, free compost, and eco- friendly farming training. It also provides childcare facilities for the children of migrant workers during the coffee harvest season.”
Brands are Building Equity on More than Just Coffee
“…Coffee still reigns, but the narrative is shifting
In the U.S., coffee remains ubiquitous: 66% of adults drink it daily – the most of any beverage, according to the National Coffee Association. But in Europe, while overall consumption holds steady, growth in specialty appears to be stalling. The European Coffee Federation reports that coffee consumption has dropped across key markets as inflation, energy prices, and consumer fatigue weigh on discretionary spending.
Gen Z, wielding $360 billion in spending power, still drinks coffee – but they don’t chase microlot purity. Instead, they choose visually striking, fun concoctions: activated charcoal lattes, iced ube foam, spirulina brews.
A recent study found 75% of young coffee drinkers add flavoured syrups. In this shifting culture, coffee is often an ingredient or fashion prop, not a ritual. Brands understand this and are pivoting: focusing on social media appeal, packaging, and lifestyle alignment as much as bean quality.
The transition is clear: coffee is now often a stage prop, an ingredient in lifestyle, rather than a completed act of consumption.
“This is where brands gotta get surgical,” says Bartholomew. “If coffee is just an ingredient, then the flex gotta be about why your coffee is different at the ingredient level…”
Study: Coffee Parchment as Food for Farmed Tilapia
“In recent decades, intensive fish farming has expanded significantly to meet the growing global demand for animal protein1. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is a particularly important species in global aquaculture, ranking third in production with 4.4 million tons annually, accounting for approximately 9% of the world’s farmed fish output2. Its popularity stems from its high market demand, adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions, and resilience to diseases.
As a result, there is growing interest in natural, environmentally friendly feed additives, particularly plant-based compounds for enhancing fish immunity and performance without side effects.
Notably, coffee by-products stand out as a promising resource due to their abundance and rich bioactive compound profile”
Researchers Employ E-Nose to Trace Roasted Coffee Back to Origins
“Science has already determined that the very smell of coffee can make people smarter. Now, research from China is taking the knowledge of the nose even further, applying an e-nose to determine the origins of roasted coffees.
The e-nose is one of three advanced techniques the research team used to confirm what is essentially a fingerprint of volatile aroma compounds that were associated with coffees from eight specific countries.
According to the study authors, the goal was to build a methodology to better understand how origin shapes flavor, which might have practical implications as market actors seek to add value to coffee by enhancing or maximizing aroma.
Yet another goal was to explore faster, more reliable ways to trace the source of a coffee. Although not explored in detail in the study, the latter goal may be most applicable to counterfeiting.”
The dedicated agricultural application and farm plan summary are due to the County by Sept 1st.
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
