#USA #Hawaii #Coffee Festival #UCC Hawaii #Kona Coffee

UCC Hawaii Sponsors the 54th Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

UCC Hawaii has once again taken center stage as the main sponsor of the 54th Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, running from November 7 to November 16, 2023, on the Big Island of Hawaii. This iconic event celebrates the unique culture and producers behind the world-renowned Kona coffee, which has captivated coffee lovers globally.

The Heart of Kona Coffee

Established in 1989, the UCC Hawaii Kona Coffee Farm is dedicated to cultivating high-quality Kona coffee, focusing on every stage of production. Beyond just growing coffee, UCC Hawaii actively participates in local events such as the Kona Marathon and the annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, fostering community ties and advancing the coffee industry.

The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, initiated in 1971, has become Hawaii's oldest food-related festival and a cornerstone for local coffee producers. This year, it marks its 54th occurrence, showcasing over 40 events, including tastings, exhibits, concerts, and parades. It attracts not only local residents but also visitors from across the island and beyond, making it one of the largest celebrations in the area.

Spotlight Events Sponsored by UCC Hawaii

UCC Hawaii proudly sponsored three major events during this year’s festival, aiming to uplift and support the Kona community:

1. Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Event: This contest empowers local women by providing scholarships and various awards to the winner. The titleholder will also serve as an ambassador for Kona coffee for a year, which involves engaging with community issues and participating in Q&A sessions, providing a platform for their voices to be heard.

2. Picking & Farm Experience: This exciting competition invites participants to harvest coffee cherries at the UCC Hawaii Kona Coffee Farm. Originally aimed at children, the event was revamped in 2016 to include both tourists and local families, turning it into a vibrant celebration of coffee harvesting.

3. Cupping Competition: This prestigious event assesses the quality of Kona coffee to identify the best of the year. With 96 entries this year alone, professional tasters from around the world, including judges from UCC, convened to evaluate aroma and taste across two days. An awards ceremony concluded the event, allowing the public to taste the winning brews.

A Commitment to Quality and Community

UCC Hawaii's commitment to excellence in Kona coffee production is unwavering. The organization intends to continue strengthening its relationship with coffee producers and the local community while promoting the rich legacy of Kona coffee.

Through its direct involvement in agriculture since the establishment of the first direct farm in Jamaica in 1981 and later in Hawaii, UCC has built a robust value chain in coffee production, from cultivation to distribution. Their efforts extend beyond coffee, as they also guide producers internationally on quality improvements, helping enhance livelihoods and forest conservation.

Kona coffee is renowned for its silky smoothness and pleasant acidity, nurtured by soil rich in volcanic minerals and ideal climatic conditions. However, the annual production is modest, making it one of the world's most coveted coffees.

To ensure a stable supply of high-quality Kona coffee to Japan, UCC Hawaii continues to innovate with new cultivation techniques and processing methods at its expansive 16-hectare farm, which features approximately 18,800 coffee trees. As a visitor-friendly farm that addresses pressing agricultural challenges, UCC Hawaii also experiments with sustainable practices.

UCC Hawaii Kona Coffee Products

For over 50 years, UCC Group has delivered Hawaiian Kona products to coffee enthusiasts in Japan. Several delightful options include:

• - 100% Kona Coffee (4oz, 8oz, 16oz) available via UCC Hawaii's online shop.
• - Hawaiian Kona Anaerobic Coffee (100g) sold through UCC's official online store.
• - UCC DRIP POD Hawaiian Kona Blend (12 cups), available on various ecommerce platforms.
• - UCC Mountain Mist Hawaiian Kona (200g) sold through the UCC Group's B2B channels,
• - Hills Harmonius Hawaiian Kona Blend (100g) offered in Japanese retailers and online.

By continually seeking quality and community engagement, UCC Hawaii is poised to contribute meaningfully to the growth and sustainability of the Kona coffee industry.