“Best Agricultural Newsletter in Hawaii”
Newsletter of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association                                 Â
December 2017
PO Box 5436 Kailua Kona Hawaii 96745 USA
www.konacoffeefarmers.org    [email protected]
Contents
Chefs’ Choice Awards
KCFA Member Perks
Loans for Storage Facilities
Annual KCFA Membership Meeting
Another Wine Yeast Fermentation Story
Growing for the Future
Coffee Blend Labeling Issues
History of Coffee Pros and Cons
Christmas Trees and Invasive Pests
Coffee Biofuel for London Buses
Boost Your Holiday Sales
Recipe: Winter Spiced Coffee
Write to Us
Editor – Clare Wilson
Tony Ambut and Kathy Gedeon of Mr Bean Kona Coffee and Robert, Amy, Kahlil and Indi Anderson of Holualoa Organics display Chefs’ Choice Certificates presented by KCFA Board President Suzanne Shriner
Five Farms Honored with Chefs’ Choice awards
At the 19th annual Holualoa Village Coffee & Art Stroll, three well-known chefs from Kona tasted coffee from more than 30 coffee farmers on Saturday, November 4th. Chefs Justin Peters of Holuakoa Gardens, Morgan Starr of Mi’s Waterfront Bistro and Randy Martin of Rebel Kitchen walked the length of Holualoa, tasting 100% Kona coffee at booths set up by each farmer offering their coffee to worldwide visitors.
The winners selected by the Chefs for the 2017 “Five Star 100% Kona Coffee Chefs’ Awards” are:
Mr. Bean Kona Coffee
Kope Kabana
Holualoa Organics
3 Keiki Farms
Kona Coffee and Tea
When interviewed, Chef Starr said “The Coffee & Art Stroll is the wonderful opportunity I have once each year to stroll with other chefs on a beautiful morning and enjoy Kona’s very best coffees. Every one of the participating farms provides us with a sip of incomparable taste, but each year the flavor of the coffee from 4 or 5 farms (and not the same farms each year) shines through. Congratulations to this year’s winners!”
The Holualoa Coffee & Art Stroll is co-presented by the Holualoa Village Association and the Kona Coffee Farmers Association. The Chefs’ Choice judging is organized by the KCFA and each year brings recognition to five of Kona’s top flight coffees.
–Submitted by Bruce Corker
KCFA Member Perks!
Free CLASSIFIEDS-We’ve had good success with these recently fulfilled: Botanigard for sale, old Huller needed a new home, pig fence Built, and part time positions filled. Want to buy, sell, or hire anything? Does not have to be about coffee. Email [email protected] with the subject: CLASSIFIEDS. (Must be 500 characters or less.)
Another Member perk! Â Access to every set of Board Meeting Minutes since February 17, 2006! Log in first and go here: https://konacoffeefarmers.org/category/members-only/meeting-minutes/ Â Â (Posted the month after the meeting to allow for corrections)
–Submitted by Cecelia Smith
Farm Service Agency Offers Loans for Storage Facilities  Â
Farm storage facility loans provide low-interest financing to build or upgrade storage facilities for commodities, including but not limited to fruits, vegetables, floriculture, dairy, and unprocessed meat/poultry. Examples of eligible facility types are cold storage, grain bins, bulk tanks, and drying and handling equipment, including storage and handling trucks. View/download the Farm Storage Facility Loans fact sheet or visit your local FSA office for more information about this program. Frustrated with your current equipment? Plan now for next season.
–Submitted by Suzanne Shriner
2018 KCFA Annual General Membership Meeting & Board Elections Â
Mark your Calendars now! January 28, 2018- Sunday – Kahaluu Beach Pavilion on Alii Drive. Â Our annual fun together including a yummy potluck, review of the past KCFA year, Board elections and just enjoying fellow farmers. Lots more info to come.
2018-2019 KCFA Board of Elections will be held at our General Membership Meeting on January 28, 2018.
Looking for a few good farmers☺. If you would like to spend thoughtful time helping to steer your KCFA or if you know someone who would- do not hesitate- send name and phone number to the [email protected] with subject: BOD Candidates. Meetings are on the 3rd Monday of each month and last from 3-4:30 pm. Board Responsibilities and Duties of a KCFA Board member may be found here: Â https://wp.me/p2o9ED-55 Â Mahalo
–Submitted by Cecelia Smith
Another Wine Yeast Fermentation Story
After attending the presentation on fermentation by Scott Labs, I decided to experiment with some wine yeast I had. This yeast was part of a Christmas gift of wine making paraphernalia given to me by my son after I told him that my single grape vine was covered with wine grapes. That was 5 or 6 years ago and the vine never produced to that degree again – but I put the yeast in the refrigerator and left it there.
Following the instructions, we added the yeast to a small wheelbarrow of coffee that had just been through the wet mill. When we checked it the next morning, the beans were already gritty, and the soak water was relatively clean. Twenty-four hours later, the batch had a pleasant beery smelly and the beans were very clean. After rinsing and drying, we roasted a batch to medium. I wish I could report that our coffee had all the delectable aromas and flavors that Suzanne reported; but although ours had a good bold taste, the only distinct flavor was one of toast – not burnt toast, just agreeable toast flavor.
Now, I’m ready to try some recommended wine yeasts. With our schedules, the biggest advantage is the ability to leave the coffee in the fermentation stage for extended lengths of time.
–Submitted by Clare Wilson
”Growing for the Future”: Online Ag Conference
Love farming conferences but loathe the travel and the costs? The National Farmers Union (NFU) invites you to join their FREE upcoming virtual beginning farmer conference this December 4-7th, called “Growing for the Future“. You can participate in this unique and convenient learning experience from the comfort of your own home.
Each day brings a different topic area from leaders in the field, streaming live during the afternoons. While the topic areas are designed for beginning farmers and ranchers, there is useful knowledge to be gained for even experienced ones. Register ahead of time so you can receive the login information for joining the conference. Even if you are unsure if you can make all four days, sign up anyway. That way you can pop in when you have time. Use this link to sign up!
Here’s to a sustainable farming future!
–Submitted by Suzanne Shriner
Coffee Blend Labeling Issues Â
For Kona coffee farmers interested in coffee blend labeling issues—and we all should be—here are three links that provide important reading:
1—Cecelia Smith’s Letter to the HDOA: Earlier this year a Kona coffee farmer contacted the KCFA with concerns about the labeling of “KonaRed Cold Brew Coffee Original Kona Blend.” This product is sold in Hawaii and on the mainland. After examining the KonaRed label, the KCFA Branding Committee Chair Cecelia Smith was also concerned. On October 18 she sent a letter to Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) Chair Scott Enright requesting that the HDOA (1) investigate to determine the percentage of Kona coffee in the KonaRed product, and (2) support for legislation to add brewed coffee products to the coverage of the current coffee blend labeling law. The law now applies only to roasted and instant coffee. To read the October 18 letter, click here
2—Star-Advertiser Article: Prompted by Cecelia Smith’s letter, Star-Advertiser investigative reporter Andrew Gomes published a November 6 article on the KonaRed issues. In an interview an HDOA representative failed to commit to an investigation of the percentage of Kona coffee in the KonaRed product or to HDOA support for expanding coverage of the labeling law to brewed coffee blends. In an email response to the reporter, KonaRed’s board chairman acknowledged that “the company is adjusting its labels”, but did not indicate how much Kona coffee is in the product. To read the Star-Advertiser article, click here: http://staradvertiser.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx?noredirect=true
3—Response to Inquiry of Sen. Mike Gabbard: From a review of the Star-Advertiser article, State Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, asked for “information on what other states are doing to protect farmers.” In response, KCFA Past President Bruce Corker sent an email giving examples of protections provided by other states (Idaho, California, Georgia, Vermont) to their farmers. To read the email, click here.
 –Submitted by Bruce Corker
Pros and Cons of Drinking Coffee – A History Â
From the 1500s until the early 2000s, reports on the effects of drinking coffee were primarily negative. Since then, reports have been almost entirely positive. Some of the early reports are quite “interesting” in the effects reported.
Check out the story on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/14/health/coffee-health/index.html
–Submitted by Cecelia Smith
Christmas Trees and Invasive Pests
Did you know Christmas trees imported from the mainland could harbor Hawaii’s next invasive pest? For this reason, BIISC recommends looking at alternatives to imported Christmas trees – buy locally grown!  http://www.biisc.org/christmas-trees-grow-in-hawaii/. In past years, snakes, wasps, and slugs have been found in shipments of Christmas trees and other foliage used for holiday decorating. It’s estimated that a new insect arrives in Hawaii every day. Of those, 17 new species will survive and multiply each year. Franny Brewer at the Big Island Invasive Species Council projects that 10-15% of species introduced in island ecosystems cause some level of problem.
–Submitted by Suzanne Shriner
Time to File for Bassiana Reimbursement
Aloha Coffee Growers,
Apply now for up to 50% reimbursement on Beauveria bassiana purchases made 7/1/2016 through 6/30/2017. Original receipts are required. The HDOA CBB Pesticide Subsidy application and instructions are online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016-17HDOACBBAnnualReimbursement
Contact the office at [email protected] or 808.323.7578 for a copy of the application, or for additional information. The CBB Subsidy Office is still located in the State Office Building at 82-6130 Mamalahoa Hwy in Captain Cook, but has moved to Room # 7. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Thank you!
Gwen Hicks
[email protected]
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
CBB Subsidy Program Coordinator
Phone: 808-323-7578
London Buses to be Powered by Biofuel Including Coffee Grounds Â
LONDON. UK – Shell and bio-bean announce that together they are helping to power some of London’s buses using a biofuel made partly from waste coffee grounds.
The B20 biofuel contains a 20% bio-component which contains part coffee oil. The biofuel is being added to the London bus fuel supply chain and will help to power some of the buses; without need for modification.
Biofuel provides a cleaner, more sustainable energy solution for buses across London’s network by decreasing emissions1.
“Our Coffee Logs have already become the fuel of choice for households looking for a high-performance, sustainable way to heat their homes – and now, with the support of Shell, bio-bean and Argent Energy have created thousands of litres of coffee-derived B20 biodiesel which will help power London buses for the first time.” said bio-bean’s founder Arthur Kay.
“It’s a great example of what can be done when we start to reimagine waste as an untapped resource.”
Read the whole story here: https://www.comunicaffe.com/shell-bio-bean-and-coffee-drinkers-help-power-londons-buses/
Happy Holiday Sales!
Boost your sales this Holiday season by leveraging your current customer base. Sending a holiday email is a great way to remind your customers that 100% Kona is the perfect gift for Christmas. Utilizing software to manage your email list can make this process easier and more professional. KCFA uses Mailchimp.com, a great program that is free to use for lists under 2,000 contacts. It’s very easy to set up emails that will look good, and drive customers back to your website. Research shows that the growing millennial food and beverage marketplace values many of the same things that make our KCFA members special: direct relationships, family farms, and bespoke 100% origin products. Use email to share your farm story and promote your Kona as a stocking stuffer, hostess gift, and as a special treat.
–Submitted by Suzanne Shriner
Recipes Wanted! If any of you have coffee recipes that you would like to share, please submit them to the editor: [email protected]
     Recipe: Winter Spiced Coffee Recipe
Prep Time
5Â mins
Cook Time
20Â mins
Total Time
25Â mins
Winter Spiced Coffee Recipe: Topped with cream, sprinkled with cinnamon and cocoa, well, maybe I should let you try for yourself.
Servings:Â 6Â servings
Author:Â Clara Gonzalez
Ingredients
- ½ cup of heavy cream
- ¼ cup of coffee beans
- 10 cardamom pods , crushed
- 2Â star anise
- ½ qt [½ lt] of water
- 1/3 cup of powdered sugar
- ½ cup of Kahlúa
- 1/3 cup of brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of sweetened cocoa
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder
Instructions
- Chill whipping cream, and the bowl and wire attachment of your mixer.
- In the meantime, mix coffee beans, cardamom, star anise and ½ quart [1/2 lt] of water in a 1 quart [1 lt] pot. Simmer over very low heat until the liquid has reduced to half.
- In the meantime, whisk the cream with the wire attachment at medium-high speed until it forms soft peaks (1 1/2 minutes). Add sugar and whisk until it forms firm peaks (2-3 mins).
- Sieve coffee to eliminate solids. Mix with the KahlĂşa and brown sugar, and split equally into 6 cups. Top with a swirl of cream, and sprinkle with cocoa and cinnamon.
–Submitted by Kay Dixon
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! >> Write 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: [email protected] with SUBJECT: Commentary.
