04-22-2008, 07:42 AM
Thanks Kani-Lehua for the coffee link. I'm wondering how I missed it.
What I'd like to know about this article is how all these smalltime Maui coffee growers get their coffee beans processed?
A coffee milling machine is a major investment and usually not affordable by the average ma and pa grower. It's one of the main reasons why so many people that grow coffee on their property in hawaii never take that extra step and process what they grow.
Sure they can sell their coffee cherries to the major coffee farms but instead of getting 30.00 a pound for their processed coffee...they get $1.00 a pound (doesn't even cover the fertilizer costs)
So I say good for the Maui coop! Maybe something like this can start on the Big Island for the small time backyard coffee grower who wants to process and sell what he grows. Maybe if enough smalltime growers get together...they might be able to get the right coffee processing equipment.
What I'd like to know about this article is how all these smalltime Maui coffee growers get their coffee beans processed?
A coffee milling machine is a major investment and usually not affordable by the average ma and pa grower. It's one of the main reasons why so many people that grow coffee on their property in hawaii never take that extra step and process what they grow.
Sure they can sell their coffee cherries to the major coffee farms but instead of getting 30.00 a pound for their processed coffee...they get $1.00 a pound (doesn't even cover the fertilizer costs)
So I say good for the Maui coop! Maybe something like this can start on the Big Island for the small time backyard coffee grower who wants to process and sell what he grows. Maybe if enough smalltime growers get together...they might be able to get the right coffee processing equipment.