Hawaii Coffee Association honored Senator Kanuha for
keeping the interest of coffee farmers
The Hawaii Coffee Association (HCA) honored Senator Dru Mamo for the
introduction of recent legislation to extend the Hawaii
Department of Agricultureʻs Coffee Berry Borer Pesticide Subsidy Program
and expand it to include control of the industryʻs latest disease challenge. The
Hawaii Senate Majority Leader received an appreciation plaque crafted from a
century-old fallen koa tree that once flourished at Kona’s Greenwell
Farms.
“While
our coffee industry has been challenged by CBB, CLR and impacts relating to
COVID, the state legislature has faced unprecedented COVID-induced budgetary
constraints,” stated HCA President Chris Manfredi during the awards ceremony.
“Nonetheless, Senator Kanuha listened to and understood our challenges, and
championed this subsidy extension and expansion to include CLR management. This
will make life a good deal easier for Hawaiʻi’s coffee farmers and help ensure
their viability. We thank him for his leadership.”
Presenting
Hawaiʻi Senator Dru Mamo Kanuha (center left) with the Hawaii Coffee
Associationʻs first-ever Legislator of the Year Award are from left: Brittany
Horn, HCA secretary; Tom Greenwell, HCA vice-president; Chris Manfredi, HCA
president; Alla Kostenko, HCA event coordinator and Madeleine Longoria Garcia,
HCA Cafe Collective Committee chair. (PC: Hawaiʻi Coffee Association)
CBB
was first detected in Hawaii at Kona island in 2010, which is endemic to
Central Africa. Farmers fight CBB with an integrated pest management (IPM)
supported by the state program.
And
scientists discovered CLR first in Sri Lanka in 1869 causing plant defoliation
resulting in reduced photosynthetic capacity and tree dieback. CLR was first
detected on Maui Island last October which triggered concern by many for the
devastating effect of pathogen and soon after, EPA approved a fungicide as part
of an IPM plan.
The
highly priced Hawaiian coffee is a well protected brand with the supervision
of HCA to protect the interest of all
business in coffee on island including growers, millers, wholesalers, roasters
and retailers.
The
Hawaiʻi Senate Majority Leader directed the passage of legislation (SB855 SB1
HD1 CD1) to extend the Hawaiʻi Department of Agricultureʻs Coffee Berry Borer
(CBB) Pesticide Subsidy Program and expand it to include control of the
industry’s latest disease challenge, Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR). The legislation
extends the date of the program to June 2023 and specifies annual subsidy caps
per acre of treated coffee.