MEDIA RELEASE

The 4th Annual Kona Coffee Farmers Association (KCFA) Expo specifically for small farms and farmers is 9:30 am.-2:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28 at the Old Kona Airport Pavilion, followed by the KCFA’s Annual Meeting at 3 pm.

Everyone is welcome to attend and admission is free.

Highlighting the 4th Annual Expo will be the keynote speaker, newly appointed chairman of the state Department of Agriculture, Russell Kokubun, who will speak at 1:30 p.m. on The Agricultural Renaissance for Hawaii County.

Dr. Skip Bittenbender of UH-CTAHR and members of the state Task Force on Coffee Berry Borer (CBB) including Tom Greenwell, as well as KCFA’s (CBB) Committee will give an overview of the CBB issue.

Other speakers include Bob Perry speaking on “Nitrogen Monitoring of Soil and Tissue for Coffee Fertilization” and Lee Paterson who will speak on “Natural Processed Kona Coffee.”

In addition to the speakers, the expo includes vendors who will have on-going exhibits of Marketing Materials, Printing Services, Farm Equipment & Coffee Roasters, Small Farm Equipment, Shipping Services, Organic Info, Fertilizer Tools, Shade Tree Planting, and Irrigation.

The USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA/RCD, SWCD, R&D, and NRCS will offer information for farmers.

Several expo “specials” will be available to Kona Coffee Farmers Association members on expo day only, including “Buy One Get One Free” on KCFA 100% Seals, and the Parmigiano-Reggiano Kona Coffee Award Commemorative Stamp – which have it debut on Expo Day.

Substantial discounts on KCFA logo merchandise will also be available.

The annual Kona Coffee Farmers General Meeting will follow at 3 pm. Everyone is welcome but only current Active members may vote for the 2011 Board of Directors and only paid up KCFA members are eligible for door prizes.