Geographical indications debated at Slow Food’s Salone del Gusto in Turin: The protection of products of origin is good for consumers and defends the identity of places and people

KAILUA KONA, HAWAII, October 1, 2010  -  The Slow Food Foundation has chosen 100% Kona Coffee as a finalist for its prestigious International Parmigiano-Reggiano Award. The award, which will presented at the Salone Del Gusto in Turin, Italy on October 23rd, honors food producers who have shown commitment to the protection of geographical origin, environmental protection, and dedication to taste.

The award was established in 2004 by the Parmigiano-Reggiano Consortium, on the occasion of its 70th anniversary, and is presented at the huge international exposition of good, healthy and fair food that draws over 150,000 visitors to Turin, Italy in October every two years. Small-scale food producers come to Salone del Gusto from all over the world to showcase their products, and the event is dedicated both to excellent food and to the extraordinary people who produce it. It promotes taste education, informing the public about the threat to food biodiversity and eco-gastronomic concerns and is also a place to explore the pleasures of the palate.

Colehour and Melanie Bondera will be attending the events on behalf of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association, (KCFA). "Slow Food strengthens communities of small-scale producers, protects traditional foods, counteracts the disappearance of local food traditions and teaches people responsibility, as well as pleasure, in their food choices", said Colehour.  KCFA President Bruce Corker added, "The work in establishing geographic origins, such as Kona Coffee's participation in Salone del Gusto and work with the international organization "oriGIn", is creating new economic protection for farmers, and guarantees the global consumer will recognize the real value of a product."

Salone del Gusto is held simultaneously with the Terra Madre world meeting of food communities. The five-day meeting will bring together food communities, cooks, academics, youth and musicians from all over the world, who are united in a desire to promote sustainable local food production in harmony with the environment while respecting knowledge handed down over the generations. Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 and now has over 100,000 members in 132 countries.

The Kona Coffee Farmers Association(http://www.konacoffeefarmers.org/) is a volunteer, non-profit, community-based organization of coffee farmers with the mission to promote and protect the economic interests of Kona coffee farmers who grow and sell 100% Kona coffee and to seek greater legal protection of the Kona coffee name.

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