A little beetle is causing big damage to Kona coffee crops.

If you’re a coffee lover, you may have noticed that many roasters and retailers no longer stock Kona products. When you do find this popular coffee variety for sale, the price is higher than ever before. This widespread shortage of Kona coffee is the direct result of a beetle infestation that is attacking Hawaii’s coffee crops.

Hawaii is the only coffee-growing region in the United States and, over the past two years, coffee exports have continued to decline as the Coffee Berry Borer has ravaged local crops. Once this small beetle bores into the coffee cherry, the bean is no longer viable for use in coffee products.

North Kona and South Kona, on the west side of Hawaii’s Big Island, lost a significant portion of its crop in 2011 to the infestation and drought-like weather conditions. It is important to note that only coffee beans grown in this area can be sold under the Kona name. While supply has decreased significantly, consumer demand for this world-famous coffee variety remains high. These crop losses contribute to the scarcity of Kona products.

Efforts to protect the remaining crops with pesticides and field sanitation measures are time-consuming and expensive, leading to further price hikes. The industry-wide shortage is further aggravated by a quarantine set by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. The rule requires that all unroasted beans be properly fumigated before export from the island. Should the infestation continue and spread, it is estimated that crop yields could decrease by as much as 90-percent.

What’s a Kona coffee lover do to? Uncompromising consumers will have little choice but to pay the higher premiums for pure Kona coffee. For those who want a taste of Kona without the steep price tag, Kona coffee blends offer a nice alternative. These blends may contain as little as ten-percent Kona mixed with a variety of beans from other regions around the world. Other medium-bodied roasts may offer a similar flavor and aroma. If you don’t have the cash for Kona, you can look for a robust, slightly acidic coffee with a complex, yet balanced spicy taste to capture the essence of Hawaii’s signature coffee variety.

About R.L. Fielding

R.L. Fielding has been a freelance writer for 10 years, offering her expertise and skills to a variety of major organizations in the education, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing industries.