HAWAI`I DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE received testimony on proposed amendments to the state’s standards for coffee during a meeting at Pahala Community Center yesterday. While most testifiers supported the changes, they also spoke of the need for the state to formally recognize the value of Ka`u coffee with a trademark. Ralph Gaston, of Rusty’s Hawaiian 100 Percent Ka`u Coffee, said that the state should own the term Ka`u Coffee as a trademark. Jeri Kahana, of the state Department of Agriculture, said she thought Russell Kokubun, chair of the Board of Agriculture, would be agreeable to the trademark, but that DOA representatives would need to discuss receiving the name Ka`u Coffee from the current owner of the name. The name Ka`u Coffee is currently registered to Chris Manfredi. Currently, the trademark available for use by Ka`u coffee growers is Hawai`i, which refers to areas of the island other than Kona. Kahana explained that Ka`u coffee’s origin name is Ka`u. Kahana also explained that the state owns six coffee trademarks – Hawai`i Coffee, O`ahu Coffee, Kaua`i Coffee, Maui Coffee, Moloka`i Coffee and Kona Coffee and that each of these regions is surrounded by a body of water, which makes enforcing the trademark possible, she said. “We cannot put an inspector on the highway” to try to enforce more than one trademark on an island, she said. The proposed amendments for which the hearing was held are as follows: Require Hawai`i-grown coffee be marked with the grade or lower grade; Require coffees be labeled with the geographic region of origin; Repeal exemptions to mandatory certification; Increase the fee for additional copy of an issued certificate; Increase inspection fee rates; Establish the fee rate for an appeal inspection; Establish a definition for natural coffee; Repeal the standards for grades of cherry coffee grown in the geographic region of Kona; Repeal the standards for parchment grades of coffee; Amend standards for grades of green coffee; Amend defect criteria for coffee beans; Repeal the minimum export requirement for green coffee; Amend enforcement, penalties, and prosecution section; Amend abbreviation section; Repeal the coffee quality verification program; Establish a Hawai`i Natural Prime grade standard; Establish recordkeeping requirement for persons who produce, process, transport, or distribute Hawai`i-grown coffee. John Cross, land manager of Edmund C. Olson Trust II and general manager of Ka`u Coffee Mill, said, “We support these changes and applaud the definition for natural coffee. Ka`u has the best coffee growers in the state. Our natural coffee gets outstanding reviews from our retail customers. Lou Daniele, manager of Ka`u Coffee Mill, said, “I agree with the standards of grading green coffee; they match or exceed Specialty Coffee Association of America standards.” Danielle said Ka`u coffee should be origin-named. Brenda Iokepa-Moses, of Ka`u Coffee Mill, said she agrees with changes, but “I’m shocked there is no Ka`u Coffee designation. Ka`u farmers have earned the right to be recognized. Chris Manfredi, president of Ka`u Farm Bureau, said the organization is largely supportive of the proposed amendments. He said the Farm Bureau supports enhanced labeling. Greg Stille, president of Hawai`i Coffee Association and Maui Coffee Association, said Ka`u needs grading standards that match state standards. “They should not be different standards,” he said. Stille said HCA supports a trademark for Ka`u coffee based on recognition received because of the growers’ hard work. Proposed amendments are available at hdoa.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Proposed-Rule-Amendments-to-4-143.pdf.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Oct 2013 02:37:37 +0000
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