August 19, 2009
KCFA RESOLUTION ENDORSING OriGIn’s “TERUEL DECLARATION”
WHEREAS, the Kona Coffee Farmers Association’s mission is to promote and protect Kona farmers’ economic interests in 100% Kona coffee, to protect the Kona coffee heritage, and to seek greater legal protection of the Kona coffee name within the State of Hawaii, within the United States and internationally; and
WHEREAS, the Kona Coffee Farmers Association is a member of the Organization for an International Geographical Indication Network (”OriGIn”) and strongly supports the work of OriGIn in seeking international protections for regionally identified specialty agricultural products such as Kona Coffee; and
WHEREAS, the Kona Coffee Farmers Association sent a delegate to actively participate in OriGIn’s General Assembly in Teruel, Spain, June 23-26, 2009; and
WHEREAS, the OriGIn General Assembly, with the voting support of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association, adopted the “TERUEL DECLARATION” calling on the international community to adopt a system of Geographical Indications (“GIs”) to protect, among other things, the names and reputations of regionally identified specialty agricultural products such as Kona Coffee;
NOW, THEREFORE,
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE KONA COFFEE FARMERS ASSOCIATION THAT THE ASSOCIATION:
1) Formally endorses OriGIn’s “TERUEL DECLARATION”, a copy of which is attached (ed. note: see above); and
2) Congratulates OriGIn for its on-going work to develop an international system to protect Geographical Indications and pledges the support of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association for OriGIn’s work;
3) Calls on the State of Hawaii and the United States to actively support the principles of the “TERUEL DECLARATION”; and
4) Requests its Secretary to transmit copies of this Resolution to the Secretary General of OriGIn, to the United States Secretary of State, and to the Governor of the State of Hawaii.
Adopted at Captain Cook, Hawaii, August 19, 2009.
Attested to by: Mary Lake, Secretary
Kona Coffee Farmers Association
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After the KCFA Board adopted the Resolution (above) Endorsing OrGIin’s Teruel Declaration –copies were sent to the Secretary General of OriGIn, Elizabeth Barham (OriGIn VP for No. America), US Secretary of State and Secretary of Agriculture, and Hawaii Governor and HDOA Chair.