Kona Coffee Growers Association Lands $20M Asia Export Deal

The Kona Coffee Growers Association announced a $20 million export contract on April 28, 2026, with major roasters in Japan and South Korea, as initially reported by Aloha State Daily. This agreement targets premium green coffee beans from the approximately 3,800 acres of Kona coffee farmland on Hawaii's Big Island, where production hovers between two and three million pounds yearly, depending on weather and pests. Association President Matthew Katada highlighted the deal's role in enhancing Hawaii's specialty agriculture economy, providing much-needed revenue for small family farms in North and South Kona districts amid rising costs and labor shortages.

The contract arrives as Kona farmers continue to combat widespread counterfeiting, with lab tests from a 2019 class-action lawsuit revealing many 'Kona' products contained little to no authentic beans from the region. Settlements totaling over $21 million have been reached with giants like Kroger, Safeway/Albertsons, and L&K Coffee/Magnum Coffee Roastery, including a recent $6.15 million payout and strict labeling rules requiring percentage disclosures for Kona content. Honolulu-based Hawaiian Isles Kona Coffee Company paid $800,000 and rebranded by dropping 'Kona' from its name.

Primarily exported to Japan, Korea, the U.S. Mainland and Canada, Kona's beans fetch premium prices due to their unique flavor from volcanic soil and ideal microclimate. This Asia deal, building on longstanding trade ties, is expected to secure jobs for over 1,000 Big Island workers and reinforce protections under Hawaii's 2022 labeling law, which mandates origin transparency. Local leaders in Kailua-Kona view it as a pivotal step toward sustainable growth for an industry battered by past scandals.