WASHINGTON, DC, U.S – The Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation praised the announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will provide a green bean pricing valuation for Hawaiʻi-grown coffee starting in January 2016.
Currently, Hawaiʻi coffee “farm gate value” is based on parchment rather than green bean. Green bean coffee valuation will more accurately reflect market values and make reporting easier for growers.
“Despite achieving global recognition, Hawaiʻi-grown coffee has long been valued differently than most of the global coffee market,” said Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02).
“This announcement by the USDA to value Hawaiʻi coffee in the same way as the global coffee marketplace will better align with global valuation standards, increase the value of Hawaiʻi-grown coffee, and help attract additional research and development funds to support our local coffee farmers and industry.
Hawaiʻi is our nation’s only domestic coffee producer, and this change will help strengthen our coffee industry and increase its potential for growth.”
“The USDA currently understates the value of Hawaiʻi’s coffee crops, which impacts the availability of financing, and the importance of coffee to the U.S. economy,” said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i). “This action by the USDA will make it easier for Hawai‘i farmers to get loans, and to secure federal funding for research and pest control.”
“This change will increase the reported value of Hawaiʻi-grown coffee to more accurately reflect its critical role in Hawaiʻi agriculture as well as its position in the global coffee market,” said Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i).
“This is a big win for our coffee farmers and was made possible thanks to members of the Hawaiʻi agriculture community, who have been working with me on this issue for years, and our ongoing collaboration with the USDA.”
Background
The plan calls for Hawaiʻi coffee to be valued under a “non-citrus fruits and nuts” model from its current “field crop” model.
This shift will allow for a more timely publication of data with preliminary data published in January and final data published in July.
Hawaiʻi’s coffee stakeholders will be provided with valuable data including bearing acreage, yield, total production, utilized production, average price, and value of production on a cherry basis.
