Harvesting has begun at Kaua’i Coffee Company, the largest coffee estate in Hawai’i and the United States. Some 100 temporary full-time harvesting workers have been hired, including many former Amfac Sugar Kaua’i employees. Between 12 and 16 additional workers are
Harvesting has begun at Kaua’i Coffee Company, the largest coffee estate in Hawai’i and the United States.
Some 100 temporary full-time harvesting workers have been hired, including many former Amfac Sugar Kaua’i employees. Between 12 and 16 additional workers are needed, said Frank Kiger, company manager.
Operating on former McBryde Sugar lands still owned by parent company Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALEX) as a wholly owned subsidiary of A&B-Hawai’i, Inc., Kaua’i Coffee Company is looking to expand its local markets in order to stay afloat amid low international coffee prices, he said.
In a few short years, Vietnam has gone from a country that didn’t export any coffee at all, to one that has surpassed Columbia in terms of tons of coffee exports. While the Vietnam product lacks quality, it has succeeded in further lowering world sugar prices by its volume alone, Kiger explained.
The Kaua’i Company harvest of 3,400 acres is expected to continue around the clock until sometime near the end of November. Kaua’i Coffee is the world’s largest drip-irrigated coffee estate.
Anyone interested in applying for one of the harvesting positions should call 335-5481, or apply at the company office in Numila just past the Brydeswood subdivision near Kalaheo.
More information is also available at www.kauaicoffee.com.
