What Is Real Kona?
The Big Island County Council wants any coffee labeled as "Kona Coffee" to have at least 75 percent Kona coffee.
The council passed a resolution yesterday with an eight-to-one vote asking the state Legislature to require higher amounts among coffee makers claiming to use Kona blends.
Current laws only require 10 percent Kona coffee for a producer to label their products as being a "Kona Coffee Blend."
The resolution also seeks to require prominent identification on any package of Kona coffee stating the percentage by weight of any United States and foreign-grown coffee.
Kona Coffee Farmers Association President Cecilia Smith says the next step will be to try and convince the Legislature to enact a change in state laws.
Advocates of the resolution say they believe that use of the Kona name on blends with minimal Kona coffee content lowers the value of Kona-branded coffee.
Associated Press
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