Coffee seedlings further diversify local ag industry
By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer
Seedling H99-74 could be one of the exciting developments for Hawai'i agriculture in 2003, possibly redefining one of the state's largest and oldest crops and helping fortify an often overlooked part of the local economy.
H99-74 is one of a dozen coffee plants selected by researchers and farmers who plan to introduce a coffee variety unique to Hawai'i.
"All of the varieties we use now come from somewhere else," said Robert Osgood, vice president of the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center. "No breeding has ever been done."
Osgood in early December helped select H99-74 (a cross between a favorite of Kona and a semi-dwarf Brazilian variety) and 11 other crosses for farmers to grow out early next year, then make further selections based on taste.
Because it takes time for the trees to mature, it'll be at least three years before a distinct Hawai'i coffee cherry enters commercial production, but that's the nature of agriculture, where significant change usually happens slowly.
Total value of Hawai'i farm crops in 2001 was $511 million, a dip of $6 million, or 1 percent, according to the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service. Data for 2002 are still too preliminary to make estimates, but state agriculture statistician Donald Martin said he wouldn't be surprised if this year saw an uptick.
That's because the state's two biggest crops — pineapple and sugar, which pulled revenue down in 2001 with lower yields — are more likely to have shown improved production in 2002.
The ranking of top crops is expected to remain unchanged. In 2001, pineapples represented 20 percent of the industry at about $100 million, followed by sugarcane at around $60 million and the roughly $30 million seed and macadamia crops. Coffee was not far behind at about $20 million.
Diversified agriculture, which rose 1 percent to $357 million in 2001, will likely keep up its gradual expansion in 2002 and 2003 statistics.
The rise in diversified agriculture helped boost the industry work force, according to the latest available state data that showed an average of 415 more people were employed in agriculture in 2002 through October, when 8,350 people were employed.
Osgood expects taro to make a resurgence next year because of more efficient production. Sugar and papaya also look like they will have good seasons.
Of course, there will be disappointing crops depending on hard-to-predict influences such as prices, weather and disease. Overall, though, as with the breeding program for coffee that began five years ago, Martin expects slow advances.
"We're plugging along," he said. "The fact that it is kind of stable is often undervalued, but it is a positive thing."
Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.
