Robert Barnes Explains Bio-Char & Our Locally-Sourced Organic Fertilizer Mix
What does the future hold?
The future is bright, sunshiny mornings and cloudy afternoons just like it has been for eons. We will continue to learn from our generous but somewhat secretive teacher – Mother Nature. Our principles will always remain intact, and we guarantee to provide to your cup...
It certainly looks beautiful there, and who wouldn’t want to go to Hawaii. Do you offer tours like vineyards do?
Absolutely! We would love to have you visit. Please note: tours are by appointment only (they are free); and if possible, bring a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get up the hill to our farm.
We have heard that coffee has a short shelf-life and its quality can quickly deteriorate. Do you have a solution to this problem?
You must start with fresh coffee. When you walk down your grocery aisle and see coffee that appears to be contained in a vacuum packed bag … beware. Fresh coffee gives off a gas, and when this process stops the coffee has lost much of its quality. Look for a bag full...
The environment is an ever-increasing concern for us stewards of the earth. I understand that your coffee is organic, but does your farm somehow help the planet?
We call it “our farm” but it actually belongs to the planet. We are loaded with plants, flowers, jungle and critters of all sorts. We absorb carbon while we produce a product that people enjoy. We see this as a perfect partnership between the earth and its human...
The word “organic” is used all the time with lots of products. What does it really mean to you?
We work with nature, not against her. As an example, the industry has been wrestling with a destructive beetle infestation that has infected some farms by 80% or more while only 1% of our trees have been affected. We learned the organic way of controlling this pest is...
If you take all of the technical processes and percolate them down to just a couple of reasons why a discerning coffee drinker should consider your beans the best – what are they?
We win awards for our coffee and receive praise for its flavor, but it all comes down to a unique blend of water, soil and environment. The specialized processes we use to produce coffee are important but the “new” soil created by the volcano, the gift of rain and...
Kona RainForest Farms is your name – is it really a Rainforest?
No, it’s not. We gladly inherited the name from the previous owner, but a true rainforest receives much more rain than we do, and there are parts of the island that qualify. A typical day here is sunny mornings and cloudy afternoons – perfect for our trees. We...
If you were to tell a fun story about life on the farm, what would it be?
What an interesting journey this farm life has been. Often, it feels like a research laboratory here. We are visited by scientists and researchers from various universities. Even The Department of Agriculture has spent time with us. We support a type of “sub-business”...
We suspect that the farm is more than just about the business of coffee but it’s also a lifestyle and a passion of yours. How would you describe living in Hawaii and on the farm?
Yes, it is true the farm is about much more than just coffee. Ultimately, our passion is people. It is in our nature to please people – customers and visitors alike. The many complimentary comments we receive about the farm and our coffee are energizing and...