September Update

[konapage]

Aloha,

The harvest has finally arrived. It appears that we will start picking
in earnest on Saturday. The is now enough cherry ripening to bring in
the professional pickers. That is good because I am not so fast a
picker.

Mahalo,

Page

[konapage]

Aloha,

Yep the harvest has begun. We picked about 200 pounds on Saturday and
we are out picking again today. The cherry is pulping nice and the
parchment looks great!

Mahalo,

Page

[konapage]

Council moves to ban GMO coffee, taro
Bill aims to protect 'cultural practices'
by Erin Miller
West Hawaii Today
emi...@westhawaiitoday.com
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 9:33 AM HST
Hawaii County is a step closer to being able to prevent the
introduction of genetically modified taro and coffee.

The County Council Environmental Management Committee unanimously sent
a bill to prohibit growing genetically modified versions of those two
crops to full council with a positive recommendation. Council Vice
Chairman Angel Pilago, North Kona, introduced the bill, which provides
for criminal prosecution of anyone bringing in and growing the
genetically modified plants. He previously introduced a resolution,
which passed, asking the state Legislature to prohibit genetically
modified taro and coffee; that measure failed earlier this year.

The bill "protects cultural practices," as well as protects the taro
and coffee industries "via county home rule," Pilago said.

Under the bill, it will be illegal to "test, propagate, cultivate,
raise, plant, grow, introduce or release" genetically engineered taro
and coffee."

County Corporation Counsel and the county prosecutor's office both
reviewed the bill before it was presented to the council, Pilago said.

"We all know if this goes to the state Legislature, they're not going
to do anything as a body," South Kona Councilwoman Brenda Ford said.

Hamakua Councilman Dominic Yagong asked a representative of the
Corporation Counsel's office what would happen if state legislators
enacted a law to allow genetically modified taro and coffee to be
produced in Hawaii. That law might supersede the county's law,
depending on the wording, the deputy corporation counsel said.

Barring that, "it would be legal?" Yagong asked. "It would have
jurisdiction over the scientific community and companies, they would
be banned from bringing it in?"

Upon hearing an affirmative answer, Yagong noted that he isn't
necessarily opposed to scientists changing genetic makeup of plants,
but when farmers ask for it, not when they oppose it.

More than a dozen people testified in support of the bill, while two
testified against it.




Copyright © 2008 West Hawaii Today

[konapage]

Aloha everyone,

The harvest is finally getting going. We have picked nearly 1,000
pounds so far. It looks to be a good crop. Not many floaters in the
early picking but very large beans.

Last year week had 30% Extra Fancy, 35% Fancy, 25% Kona #1, 4%
Peaberry and the rest was Prime. It looks like this year will be
similar.

Mahalo,

Page

On Sep 11, 7:10 am, konapage <ptrygs...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Council moves to ban GMO coffee, taro
> Bill aims to protect 'cultural practices'
> by Erin Miller
> West Hawaii Today

> emil...@westhawaiitoday.com

[konapage]

In Brief - Business
by local and wire sources
Friday, September 26, 2008 10:41 AM HST
Coffee fest members attend Japan event

The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival recently participated at the seventh
annual Yokohama Festival in Japan. With more than 300,000 attendees
during the three-day festival staged at several venues, the Yokohama
Festival is a gathering designed for attendees wishing to share in the
spirit of Hawaii through cultural events and promotional activities.

The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival delegation, including Miss Kona
Coffee Malia Pucong, were overwhelmed by the support from Kona
Mountain Thunder, Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee, Hula Daddy, Royal Kona
Coffee, Greenwell Farms, Arianna Farms, Kona Mountain, Kona Coffee and
Tea Co., Kona Blue Sky Coffee, UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Holualoa Kona
Coffee Co., Kulana Farm, Buddha's Cup, Imagine 100% Kona Coffee Farm,
Mahakahi Farms and the Kona Coffee Farmers Association for donating
more than 2,000 packages of Kona coffee to help their promotional
efforts on behalf of the industry.

The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is recognized and supported as a
major festival by Hawaii Tourism Authority as the festival showcases
Hawaii's unique culture and diversity.

[konapage]

The harvest continues to be a little slow. More than a little
actually. Last year we had around 5,000 pounds of cherry harvested by
now. This year we only have harvested 1,700 pounds. Don't worry it is
all still on the trees. We expect a real busy October and November.
The weather has been cloudy and rainy for the last several months so
that has apparently slowed the ripening.

Mahalo,

Page

[konapage]

Well it looks like I was a little premature in announcing this item.
The processors and seed companies are fighting the final vote on the
matter so it is still up in the air. The vote occurs Tuesday.

Page

On Sep 11, 7:10 am, konapage <ptrygs...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Council moves to ban GMO coffee, taro
> Bill aims to protect 'cultural practices'
> by Erin Miller
> West Hawaii Today

> emil...@westhawaiitoday.com