Lawmakers in Kona are proposing new legislation to enforce stricter labeling regulations for Kona coffee, a premium product often misrepresented by brands. Currently, only 10% of a coffee blend needs to be from Kona to use the name, but the new bill aims to raise this to 51% or even 100%. This change is intended to protect the Kona brand and ensure that farmers receive fair prices for their authentic products. The anticipated increase in the price of Kona coffee is expected to have minimal impact on sales volumes but provide significant economic benefits to local growers. The legislation includes hefty fines for false labeling, aiming to preserve the integrity of Hawaiʻi-grown coffee.
Enjoying the read? Subscribe for free to one of the fastest-growing newsletters and get weekly coffee news (TL;DR updates) delivered right to your inbox.