So, just as I'm about to place an order for a new Kona bean that is sure to knock your socks off, I see this little tidbit from the Pacific Business News (2/18/07):
The Kona Coffee Farmers Association, one of three major associations of Kona growers and the one most opposed to 15 percent blends, says regular citizens are signing up to join its battle. In the newly-distributed February issue of its newsletter The Independent Voice, the association said more than 1,000 people nationwide signed an online petition in just three days after it was posted.The petition asks for support of House Bill 72 and Senate Bill 661 in the current session of the Hawaii Legislature, which raise the minimum allowable level of Kona coffee in Kona blends from 15 percent to 75 percent.
The Hawaii Coffee Association and the Kona Coffee Alliance oppose the 75 percent minimum, warning that it's not clear what would be the economic impact of such a sudden change to the industry.
The Kona Coffee Farmers Association says its members push 100 percent Kona coffee and asserts that both of the other groups have boards dominated by marketers of Kona blends and growers who sell to those companies....
This will have a direct impact on the Kona product that I'm considering. I think before I order more I may wait to see how this shakes out in the legislature... unless I get a bunch of orders for it now... {ahem, hint}
Until next time, I'll keep the roast alive!
