VETO HB 280 Repealing Mandatory Certification Hawaii-grown Green Coffee

Dear KCFA Members and Appreciators of 100% Kona Coffee:

HB280 (Repeal of Mandatory Inspection and Certification of Green Coffee) appears almost certain to be adopted by the Hawaii Legislature at the request of the Blenders/Processors.

We need your help.  We need you to join this petition asking Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie to veto HB280 in order to protect the integrity of Kona and other Hawaii-grown coffees.

This bill would be disastrous for the growers and the buyers of Hawaii-grown coffee.  By repealing mandatory certification of grade and origin this bill exposes all Hawaii coffee to the threat of another Kona Kai coffee counterfeiting scandal.  The current mandatory system has been successfully administered by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture for more than a decade.  This system has provided a measure of assurance as to the origin and quality of Hawaii-grown coffee to buyers throughout the world.

We need your help in getting the message to the Governor to VETO this bill.

Mahalo from your Kona Coffee Farmers Association