The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-01-11
THE COFFEE INDUSTRY.
George Osborn Urges an Association
To Revive 1t.

Editor Advertiser: What is to become
of the coffee industry of the Hawaiian
Islands?
This is the most important question to
the coffee planters at the present time,
because it looks from the present indica-
tons that this once promising industry
will soon be numbered among the fail
ureS of these Islands.
But does not this industry deserve n
better fate? And must it go to the wall
because there is no one that will take
the least trouble to properly bring it be-
fore the public, or place 1t on the mar
ket?
1t may be surprising to most people, to
learn, that while the Hawaiian coffee is
considered second to none, that scarcely
anyone in California, to say nothing of
anything of 1t.
: 1t may also be surprise to most peo-
pie to learn that there is no sale for Ha-
waiian coffee either here. or in the
States, or anything to speak Of
And it will be a surprise for them to
hear that all this coffee will bring, in
the parchment is six to sevent cents per
pound. And which is less than the cost
of growing it. And there are but few
that care to pay that price, unless the
money is taken out in goods.
That this state of things is deplorable,
and cannot last, Is very evident; unless
something is done to improve matters.
And the only way, that can see, is for
the coffee planters themselves. to organ
iZe, and make an effort to improve the
coffee, and to properly place 1t before
the public. At present, poorly cured cof-
fee Ia sent abroad by irresponsible par
ties, which has tendency to lower the
standard Of the Hawaiian coffee; and for
which reason we should form an associa-
tion whose business should be to secure
uniform grading, packing, and labelling.
and to hold auction sales, or some other
means Of selling the graded coffee, by
agents of the association, at both the
producing and consuming centers. And
to so control the shipments by the asso-
citation SO as to prevent gluts in some
market centers, and an insufficient sup
ply in others. To contract with carriers
and dealers, or otherwise control the
sales, so as to secure for the producer
the highest possible percentage Of the
retail price of the coffee To establish
factories in the central parts OF the cof-
fee-growing districts, with a capacity
sufficient to take care of the crop and
prevent waste
The association to purchase fertilizers
and other supplies at wholesale prices
and furnish them to the members at net
cost; also to collect and disseminate
among members statistical and technical
information calculated to increase the
knowledge, and the profits of the coffee
growers of the Hawaiian Islands.
These are some such rules as are in
use in other organizations, for the pur-
pose of protecting themselves from loss,
and If we are to succeed, some such an
association will have to be formed here,
and some such rules made and carried
out
There is no question, I think, that If
these rules We're carried out, about the
success of the coffee industry. And as
this coffee is undoubtedly a superior ar
ticle, and the crops fairly good, it is to
be hoped that something will be done to
save it from total extinction and the
majority of the planters from ruin.
GEO. OSBORN.
kukaiau, Hawaii