The Independent Voice
Newsletter of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association
February 2023
PO Box 5436 Kailua Kona Hawaii 96745 USA
Coffee Symposium for Agribusinesses
KCFA Annual General Meeting
Coffee Roasting Workshop
Help is Needed to Prepare Symposium Signs
CLR Research & Update Webinars
Rural Energy for America Program Grants Available
The Science of Coffee – A Podcast Series
New KCFA T-Shirts
Respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture
52 Fun Coffee Facts
USDA Names Appointees to Serve on FSA State Committee
Kona Sun Launches Spreadable Hawaiian Coffee
Join KCFA
CBB/CLR Pesticide Subsidy
Salute to Business Member – Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers
Editor – Clare Wilson
Coffee Symposium for Agribusinesses in Kona, Friday February 24th
The Kona Coffee Farmers Association is hosting a symposium for all coffee growers and agribusinesses on Friday, February 24th at the Outrigger Keauhou Resort. It will be full day of coffee-related speakers, information and networking. Vendors will be on site, to share the latest information and technology.
Speakers will include Sharon Hurd, the new Department of Agriculture Chair, conveying her vision on the future of ag in Hawaii. Also, USDA ARS Scientists will present the latest research and guidance on coffee leaf rust. Speakers on agroforestry techniques for farm health, invasive species and marketing and more will round out the day. Growers may also sign up for coffee roasting workshops, to be held on Saturday, February 25.
Registration is required prior to February 10: https://konacoffeefarmers.org/
Free to members, and only $40 for lunch for non-members and guests.
The event will run from 9 am to 4pm, with sign-in and coffee beginning at 8am.
The Outrigger Keauhou is located at 78-128 Ehukai Street. The symposium will be in the Bayview Room, adjacent to Rays on the Bay (not the Convention Center). Contact info@konacoffeefarmers.org for more information.
KCFA 2023 Annual General Meeting
The KCFA Annual General Meeting will be held during the Coffee Symposium on February 24th, with an update on KCFA activities and election of new board members.
Coffee Roasting Workshop
Sign up now for the Roasting Workshop and Demo, led by ASHE Roasters (longtime KCFA Business Member) and hosted by Lions Gate Farms. Free for members and Symposium attendees. Guests are $10. The event will be on Saturday, February 25th, from 8:30-10 am and space is limited. A second workshop may be added if needed.
Register at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
Help is Needed to Prepare Signs for Symposium
“I need your help! Seeking someone with artistic talents or at least great handwriting to help prepare some chalk boards for directional signage at the upcoming conference/symposium in February. Please call Carolyn at 808-630-1647 if you can help prepare four boards.”
–Submitted by Carolyn Witcover
CLR Research & Management Update Webinars
From Andrea Kawabata – CTAHR
Dear Growers and Friends,
Please join us on Tuesdays in February and early March for Coffee Leaf Rust Research and Management Update Webinars. These events will consist of one or two pre-recorded presentations from researchers and/or extension followed by a live Q&A session.
We’ll have presenters from USDA ARS PBARC, HARC, and UH-CTAHR who will share information and updates about CLR research projects, field trials, and disease management.
Beginning at 9:00 am HST, I will play the PowerPoint presentations via Zoom. These presentations will be about 20-25 minutes each and played back to back. Following the presentations, I will open things up for a live question and answer session with presenters and guests that should last about 35-45 minutes.
Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. This link will be valid for all presentations and Q&A sessions.
Click here to register or contact Matt at (808) 322-0164 at least 2 days prior to the event.
More info here: https://tinyurl.com/2u5km6hx
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grants Available
https://tinyurl.com/37rz7ejf
Need to install or expand solar panels on the farm? Want to upgrade an HVAC system? USDA Rural Development received $300 million to make climate-smart investments in rural infrastructure. REAP provides grants that will cover up to 40% of a project’s cost (an increase over previous years)
Join USDA staff at the West Hawaii Civic Center’s community meeting room on Monday, February 6 from noon to 1:30 to learn more and for assistance with the grant application. Or, contact (808) 933-8323.
The Science of Coffee – Podcast Series by James Harper
https://www.comunicaffe.com/
“MILAN – James Harper is the creator of The Science of Coffee, a new podcast series about coffee’s hidden, microscopic secrets. Across six episodes, documentary maker James Harper offers free educational audio stories for coffee professionals who enjoy learning about science.
An unmissable opportunity for those who want to learn about the supply chain and the work behind a simple cup, which can also be enjoyed by the end consumer in a format that has worked very well in recent years.
The Science of Coffee: the first few episodes have been heard close to 20,000 times…”
Our New KCFA T-shirts!
Our KCFA T-shirts will be available at the KCFA Symposium and Annual Meeting, on February 24, 2023.
Designed by Mara Greenaway, a textile graphic designer who lives in Berkeley CA. Mara is the daughter of Una Greenaway, a KCFA member, and was born in Kona and raised on the family’s organic Kona coffee farm in Kealakekua. The new KCFA shirts will be available for sale – unisex shirts in a grey heather, and women’s cut shirts in mint. 25$ each
please, Respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture
USDA has mailed the 2022 Census of Agriculture to all known agriculture producers across the nation. Producers have the option to respond securely and conveniently online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. The deadline for response is Feb. 6, 2023.
The Census is vitally important to coffee and Hawaii farmers. It directly impacts how much funding is allocated to state programs. The individual data is kept confidential from other USDA programs, and can only be used for statistical purposes. Make coffee count, and return your survey.
52 Fun Coffee Facts to Get Your Curiosity Brewing
https://tinyurl.com/24f4r4u4
“…If you are more into collecting facts about coffee, we’ve got you covered. For this article, we collected a pot of fun coffee info that you can share with your friends. You can even organize a game of coffee trivia because both the plant and the history of the drink are so full of fascinating and curious details, I can’t believe nobody has ever thought of dedicating a whole trivia game to it.
Enjoy these interesting facts about coffee below and don’t forget to let us know which ones you found most attention-worthy. And if you have a coffee fact you want to share with us, head over to the comment section! We will be waiting there with a hot cup.
#1–In 1932, coffee beans sent Brazilian athletes to the Olympics.
Brazil couldn’t afford to send competitors to the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932. As a result, they filled their ship with coffee and sold it as they traveled…”
USDA Names Appointees to the Hawaii & Pacific Basin Farm Service Agency State Committee
Congratulations Suzanne Shriner
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced appointees who will serve on the Hawaii and Pacific Basin USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) state committee.
Members of the FSA state committee are appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and are responsible for the oversight of farm programs and county committee operations, resolving program delivery appeals from the agriculture community, maintaining cooperative relations with industry stakeholders, keeping producers informed about FSA programs and operating in a manner consistent with USDA equal opportunity and civil rights policies.
- Committee Chair Alan Gottlieb – Kapolei
- Robert (Bobbie) Pahia – Kula
- Michael Kamiya – Kaneohe
- Suzanne Shriner – Honaunau
- Eric Tanouye – Hilo
“The FSA state committee members play an integral role in the continuity of operations, equitable and inclusive program administration and ensure the overall integrity of services to the nation’s agricultural producers,” said Marcus Graham, FSA Deputy Administrator for Field Operations. “These individuals have proven themselves to be leaders, early adopters and key influencers in the agriculture industry in their respective states – qualities that will serve them well in these key Biden-Harris Administration leadership positions.
The Farm Service Agency serves farmers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural partners through the effective, efficient, and equitable delivery of federal agricultural programs. The Agency offers producers a strong safety net through the administration of farm commodity and disaster programs. Additionally, through conservation programs, FSA continues to preserve and protect natural resources and provides credit to agricultural producers who are unable to receive private, commercial credit, including targeted loan funds for beginning, underserved, women and military veterans involved in production agriculture.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.
Hawaii & Pacific Basin Farm Service Agency
300 Ala Moana Blvd.
Room 5-108
Honolulu, Hawaii 96850
Kona Sun Launches New Hawaiian Spreadable Coffee
https://www.comunicaffe.com/
“KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII, USA – Kona Sun, a Hawaii-based company, is excited to announce the launch of their new spreadable coffee, made with 100% Kona coffee beans. This new product is perfect for coffee lovers looking for a new way to enjoy the rich, bold flavor of Kona coffee.
Similar to Nutella, Kona Sun’s spreadable coffee is a delicious spread that can be enjoyed on toast, waffles, pancakes, or even as a dip for fruit. The product is made with only the “finest Kona coffee beans, carefully sourced from local farmers and roasted to perfection.”…)
Join KCFA
If you like reading our newsletter, support KCFA by becoming a member at konacoffeefarmers.org. KCFA offers three memberships to include all stakeholders of the Kona coffee community. Kona coffee farmer members are the core of KCFA. Supporting businesses and Kona coffee enthusiasts memberships are for non-farming entities and individuals important to the success of Kona coffee
CBB/CLR Pesticide Subsidy
COFFEE FARMERS: LAST CHANCE to take advantage of the HDOA CBB-CLR Pesticide Subsidy to get 50% back on your receipts for sprays. First come, first serve as the funding lasts, but you must have completed your application by June 1, 2023. Yes! We are reimbursing Coffee Leaf Rust spray products on our approved list!! We are reimbursing receipts from July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022 here: for approved CBB & CLR sprays. here: Start your application here and we’ll help you complete it as your prefer: online, by email, by snailmail, or in person. If you’ve never used the program before, we will also request your GET#, FEIN#/SS#, and drivers license. Please contact Melanie Bondera at hdoa.cbb@hawaii.gov or 808-323-7578 with questions.
Coffee Farmers are all seeing the yield and profit loss in the current harvest from last year’s bad round of CLR. Please take advantage of this last round of the Subsidy to help ease farm finances.
Melanie Bondera,CBB-CLR Subsidy Program , Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Phone: 808-323-7578
Physical address:-82-6130 Mamalahoa Hwy, Room # 7, Captain Cook, HI 96704
_____________________________
Salute to Business Member – Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers
https://www.htfg.org/
Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) is dedicated to the Hawaii-grown tropical fruit community and provides promotion, research, education and collaboration. Its primary purpose is promoting the interests of any and all aspects of tropical fruit in the State of Hawaii.
HTFG promotes tropical fruits and our members at trade shows, food festivals and industry events. It brings in fresh, delicious, unusual fruits for demonstrations on preparing and enjoying. It is rewarding and fun to watch the participants get excited over their new fruit discoveries.
Advancing Hawaii’s tropical fruit industry through research is the heart of Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers. HTFG funds and participates in studies to improve cultural practices and post harvest treatments. Research recently completed includes development of value-added products from off-grade tropical fruit.
Chapter workshops and seminars are held throughout the year to present important issues and
informative speakers. The meetings are a great venue for the exchange of knowledge and
experience. Members receive a subscription to Agriculture Hawaii magazine.
- Kona: Brian greenwizard@hawaii.rr.com
- Statewide questions: Ken Love Ken@mycoffee.net
Please support our Business Members. They support us.
–Submitted by Membership Committee
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
