The Independent Voice
“Best Agricultural Newsletter in Hawaii”
Newsletter of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association
December 2018
PO Box 5436 Kailua Kona Hawaii 96745 USA
www.konacoffeefarmers.org info@konacoffeefarmers.orgContents
CBB Subsidy Program
Kona Coffee Wins Paris Award
Single-Origin Saint Helena Coffee Selling 160$/lb
KCFA Board Nominations Sought for 2019-2020
How To Export Overseas
Kona Coffee Art for Sale
Why Specialty Coffee Costs So Much
Greenwell Debuts New Coffee Variety
Recipe: Christmas Coffee
Recipes Wanted
Write to Us
Editor – Clare Wilson
CBB SUBSIDY PROGRAM
The HI Department of Agriculture CBB Subsidy Program is currently offering 50% back on all original receipts for Beauveria bassiana purchased between 7/1/17 and 6/30/18, with an annual cap of $600 per acre and $6000 per farm.
Farmers have until June 30, 2019 to apply for this annual reimbursement. Please do take advantage of this state support for your CBB IPM while the funding is still available. The program Application is attached to a Grower Survey, which is critical information for extension and researchers about your coffee farm and CBB IPM practices.
You can email HDOA.CBB@hawaii.gov, call 808-323-7578, or stop by the office at the Captain Cook Civic Center Rm #7 for a paper application or with questions.
Link to DOA details on the program:
http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/main/cbbsubsidy/
Thank you!
Melanie Bondera
HDOA.CBB@hawaii.gov-Hawaii Department of Agriculture- CBB Subsidy Program Coordinator
Phone: 808-323-7578
Mailing Address: -P.O. Box 226- Captain Cook, HI 96704
Physical Address:-82-6130 Mamalahoa Hwy, Room # 7-Captain Cook, HI 96704
-Submitted by Melanie Bondera
KONA COFFEE WINS PARIS AWARD
Congratulations are in order for KCFA Board member Christine Coleman, and Buddha’s Cup. They brought home three medals from a prestigious
coffee competition in Paris. Read more here
–Submitted by Suzanne Shriner
SINGLE-ORIGIN SAINT HELENA COFFEE SELLING AT $160 PER POUND
Here is a display photo from the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle for Saint Helena coffee. A half-pound package of this specialty, single-origin coffee sells for $80. Starbucks describes Saint Helena coffee as offering “a delicate cup with subtle floral aromas leading to soft citrus fruit and caramel notes.”
In addition to appealing taste and flavor notes, Saint Helena coffee provides consumers with a fascinating story of its place of origin. Saint Helena is a small volcanic island [47 sq. miles] in the South Atlantic more than 1,200 miles from the nearest landmass–midway between southern Africa and the Brazilian coast at 15.9 degrees south of the equator. [Hawaii Island is 19.5 degrees north of the equator.] Since the mid-1600’s Saint Helena has been a British territory. It is one of the most isolated and exotic locations on earth. For the approximately 4,500 residents (known as “Saints”) there is currently no scheduled air service to the island and the principal connection with the outside world is a once-a-week ship to Cape Town.
Saint Helena coffee is produced from a “green-tipped” bourbon arabica variety that originated in Ethiopia and made it way to Saint Helena in the early 1700s through British traders by way of the Port of Mocha in Yemen. It is grown at an elevation of about 2100 ft. with an island climate that appears similar to that of Hawaii. Even in its peak production years in the 1990s, the island only produced about 12 tons of green coffee annually.
In addition to soil, topography and climate, the Saint Helena “terroir” also carries a rich history and social heritage which the marketers of the coffee highlight for customers. Saint Helena was the site of Napoleon Bonaparte’s final exile in 1815 and his place of death in 1821. Following the Boer War in South Africa at the beginning of the 20th Century, thousands of Dutch-descended Afrikaners were exiled by the British to Saint Helena and their descendants make up a significant portion of the population.
Saint Helena indicates that the broader “story” of an origin coffee can provide a effective marketing connection to consumers–and $160/lb is a retail price to which Kona coffee farmers can aspire. We certainly have an “origin story” that rivals that of Saint Helena–with the Rev. Samuel Ruggles, Kona nightingales, our heritage flavor profile from Kona typica trees, the predominance of family-scale farms looking down on a coastline of beautiful beaches and palm trees, vacation connections with millions of visitors, and much more.
–Submitted by Bruce Corker
KCFA BOARD NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR 2019/2020
KCFA’s Annual General Membership meeting will be held on January 27, 2019 at the Honaunau Rodeo Arena. You are invited so Save the date! More information will follow.
KCFA is looking for volunteers to serve on the Board for 2019-2020. Kona Coffee needs you! Whether you would like to serve or know someone who does, please contact KCFA Nomination Coffee Co-Chairs Armando Rodriguez (Tel: 987-4918, email: rodriguezarmando78@yahoo.com, or Suzanne Shriner (Tel: 989-4883, email: suzanne@coffeeofkona.com) Mahalo!
–Submitted by Cecelia Smith
HOW TO EXPORT OVERSEAS
Come Learn The Basics at Export University 101
This is a comprehensive training seminar where you will learn the nuts and bolts of exporting to help you develop an export strategy for your business. Get firsthand knowledge from the experts, while taking charge of your unique and personalized International Business Plan to grow successfully. Identify the best markets for your products or services and the steps needed to connect with new customers worldwide.
Date & Time
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
9:00am- 1 pm Export University 101 Program
1:00pm Pau & Networking
Registration
Register Online for the seminar. Questions? Call (808) 522-8040. Participate via Zoom livestreaming
Cost: FREE
This session is part of Hawaii’s State Trade Expansion Program, also known as HiSTEP, designed to assist small businesses in Hawaii with growing their export business in markets around the world. The HiSTEP program has three key components that you will learn about in the seminar: 1. Export Readiness Program – training and mentoring 2. Company Assistance – funding awards up to $7,500 3. Hawaii Pavilions – support at major trade shows The Export Readiness Training Program will help you to begin or expand your export market development through training and mentoring. Learn more about the HiSTEP program here.
–Submitted by Suzanne Shriner
COFFEE ART FOR SALE
Don’t Miss Out on this Unique Opportunity
Through the generosity of professional photographer Gregory Clark, the Kona Coffee Farmers Association was given 3 different and beautifully photographed coffee photos which were printed onto heavy art paper. Rare gifts for the Kona Coffee lover and only 18$ each. Limited supply!
These 24 inches X 36 inches sized posters have been rolled into sturdy cardboard tubes and are available for pick up at monthly KCFA Board meetings (December Board meeting is 12/17/2018-so order before) after making arrangements here or each can be mailed First Class with tracking numbers for an additional $6.45. Posters will be mailed on Fridays only.
Go to the KCFA Store (here ) and make your selection- choosing “A” or “B” or “C”. Perfect for family members to show what you are growing or for the customer who want to relish the beauty of Kona Coffee by having a photo on their walls.
For arrival via mailing before Christmas, we must have your order in by December 14.
–Submitted by Cecelia Smith
WHY SPECIALTY COFFEE COST SO MUCH
Kona coffee farmers know why specialty coffees cost more than off the shelf. This article tells everyone else why this is so. Read here
–Submitted by Clare Wilson
GREENWELL DEBUTS NEW COFFEE VARIETY
Nearly two decades ago, a team of coffee specialists from Hawai‘i Agriculture Research Center, Hawai‘i Coffee Growers Association, and Greenwell Farms made a long-term commitment to create a true Hawaiian coffee varietal, one that’s found nowhere else in the world. Beginning in 2009, Tom Greenwell began a breeding program with 30 experimental coffee varieties. Over the years a hybrid of Maragogype and Mokka met the cupping quality and growing conditions desired and is now being produced with the name Mamo.
Read the entire article here
–Submitted by Clare Wilson
“KCFA’s mission focuses on Kona typica, the varietal that made our region famous. There’s a lot of talk about new hybrids and varietals coming to our region. We have concerns about the dilution of the Kona flavor profile and brand. KCFA will continue to focus on supporting our farmers and our heritage trees.”
RECIPE: CHRISTMAS COFFEE
Serves 8
Ingredients
• 3⁄4 cup chilled whipping cream
• 1 cup freshly ground coffee
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1½ tablespoons powdered sugar
• 5 teaspoons ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon brandy
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 7 cups water
Directions
Using electric mixer, beat whipping cream in a large bowl to soft peaks.
Add powdered sugar and brandy; beat to peaks.
Mix coffee, cardamom, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and brew with the water.
Place ground coffee, cardamom, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in coffee filter.
Pour in mugs and garnish with a dollop of whipped cream.
Merry Christmas!
RECIPES WANTED! If any of you have coffee recipes that you would like to share, please submit them to the editor: clare@huahuafarm.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.
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