Require at least 75\% Kona Coffee in the bag if the Kona name is used and disclose the origins of other coffees used in the blend.

To the members of the Hawai'i State Legislature:
Rep. Herkes has introduced HB 72, and Senator Kokubun has introduced SB661, to require at least 75\% Kona coffee in the bag for the Kona name to be used on the label and to require disclosure of the origins of other coffees used in the blend. This bill is critically important to Kona coffee farmers. We hope you will give it your support.

We agree with the decision of the County Council of Hawai'i to:
1) ALLOW the use of the name, "Kona Coffee Blend" in connection with any coffee packaging which contains 75\% or more Kona coffee by weight; and
2) REQUIRE prominent identification on any package of "Kona Coffee Blend, to include the percentage by weight of any United States-grown coffee and in the case of foreign coffee, to include the country of origin and percentage by weight. This identification shall be printed in descending order of percentage by weight with the geographic origin and labeled by using print equal in size to the largest print on the sellers label.

Since 1992, the 10\% blend law has damaged the reputation of Kona coffee and threatened the economic well-being of Kona coffee farmers. Blenders, and the processors who sell to them, want to retain the right to use the Kona name on a deceptive product in which Kona coffee cannot be tasted. Farmers who sell 100\% Kona coffee need to protect its reputation as a world-class, specialty coffee, to maintain the economic viability of 650 Kona farms and Hawaii County agriculture. 10\% Blends that use the Kona name threaten the livelihood and future of Kona coffee farmers. We are not opposed to blends. Blenders can continue to put 90\% foreign coffees and 10\% Kona in their bags and call the blend whatever they like, as long as they do not use the Kona name.

We, the undersigned, support Hawaii State Legislature Bills HB72 and SB661 which changes labeling requirements for Kona coffee by specifying that "Kona" or "Kona Coffee" shall not be used on the label unless the coffee contains at least 75\% of Kona coffee meaning coffee grown in the South Kona district or the North Kona district by weight.