HONOLULU (AP) – Kona coffee growers on the Big Island are calling for a boycott of Safeway stores nationwide.
The Kona Coffee Farmers Association says the company’s mainland stores are selling coffee claiming to be whole bean Kona blend medium roast. Because the package doesn’t specify the percentage of Hawaii-grown coffee, the association says it degrades their product.
Hawaii’s Board of Agriculture Chairman Russell Kokubun has written a letter to Safeway asking for "voluntary compliance" of a state labeling law. However, that law doesn’t apply to the mainland and Safeway doesn’t sell that coffee in their Hawaii stores.
Safeway spokeswoman Susan Houghton says the letter got lost in the company system. She says Safeway met with the association Tuesday and is reviewing the blend and whether any labeling changes should be made.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
