HONOLULU (AP) — For decades, tourists to Hawaii have brought home gift boxes of the islands’ famous chocolate-covered macadamia nuts for friends and family, but these days many of the kernels in the package might not be Hawaii-grown. This little-known fact is surfacing at the state Legislature as lawmakers wrestle over legislation that would force macadamia-nut processors of iconic brands like Mauna Loa to disclose whether their products contain nuts from outside the islands. Growers want the measure to protect their crops and farms, while commercial nut brands say what Hawaii needs is more capacity to process mac nuts locally. It’s the latest tussle over labels for agricultural products from a specific geographic area, a topic familiar to Hawaii due to long-running disputes over Kona coffee. It echoes similar challenges faced by maple syrup producers in Vermont and distilleries in Champagne, which have had to fend off sparkling wine producers from other places trying to appropriate the French region’s name. |
Cleveland to pay $4.8M to family of teen killed by stolen car during police chaseTrump's $175 million bond in New York civil fraud judgment case is settled with cash promiseUS report: ‘Ethnic cleansing’ of Rohingya took place last year — Radio Free AsiaWithout cameras to go live, the Trump trial is proving the potency of live blogs as news toolsTrevor Bauer ties a Mexican League record with 9 consecutive strikeoutsBaltimore leaders accuse ship's owner and manager of negligence in Key Bridge collapseMystery as Camp Lejeune Marine sergeant, 23, dies in lateMan who attacked police after storming US Capitol with Confederate flag gets over 2 years in prisonSpanish women among top Laureus winners and Djokovic is world sportsman of the year5 found dead in Oklahoma home, including 2 children, police say