STiR coffee and tea magazine

14 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 1, 2018 (February / March) Q&A Q A By Dan Bolton STiR: Trade relationships, treaties, restrictions on travel, and barriers to entry of foreign goods are topics of concern for the entire coffee supply chain. Regulatory considerations involv- ing food safety seem to have abated. Share your view of the role for NCA in these discussions and potential hot-button concerns. Michael Gaviña: There's more happening in the world of coffee than ever before – and safety is still part of the mix, just in a different way. Coffee is facing some deeply complex issues. On the trade front, for example, NAFTA talks are a good example of the uncertainty that can result for the coffee in- dustry. We've informed US government negotiators about our issues, but our concerns are part of a larger agenda. These negotiations have the potential to hinder coffee trade between Canada, the US, and Mexico. In fact, safety issues are still on our agenda, but in a different way. The focus on the last sev- eral years has been on shaping regulations. Now, the focus is on implementation – the steps that roasters must take to train their staff, for example, or the risk assessment that coffee importers must perform. In the latter case, we worked with our sister organization GCA (Green Coffee Associa- tion) to develop a practical tool – a template – to help importers make that assessment. And, new developments bring new challenges. We were all chagrined last year when a recall of cold brew took place. Cold brew is a low-acid preparation that requires safety considerations that will be unfamiliar to traditional coffee com- panies. We're working with a team of volunteers and experts to develop a resource kit for cold brew safety. This type of work will continue. STiR: NCA has dutifully informed its members of oner- ous findings such as emissions that cast a negative light, but more recently the health benefits of coffee are finding positive media attention based on sound scientific evidence. How do you view this opportunity and how should NCA take advantage? Gaviña: With respect to emissions, we believe that they can be safely managed without harm. This isn't just our opinion – we did our homework. NCA closely collaborated with a team of technical experts and toxicologists, which resulted in a new research paper that is currently in the process of publication. We'll have more information available early this year, along with some specific tools to help roasters. This is another example of how we are supplementing our policy and lobbying work with concrete resources for business. In terms of coffee and health, this is a really exciting time for our industry. It seems like there's more good news every day – studies show it can help prevent liver disease, reduce the risk of diabe- tes, and improve cognitive function (just to name a few). And, coffee drinkers live longer. But there's also a lot of confusion out there. We need to cut through the noise and deliver ac- curate information, without hype. Our goal is to Michael Gaviña is the incoming chair of the National Coffee Association. He is a fourth-generation executive at F. Gaviña & Sons, Inc. (FGS), responsible for pric- ing raw materials and managing inventory. A Coffee Quality Institute Q grader, he joined FGS in 2002 as a buyer. He is also c.f.o. of DF Roasters since 2015. He is a member of both the Specialty Coffee Association and the Roasters Guild. Michael is the great grandson of José Maria Gaviña, who left Spain in 1870 to start a coffee business in Cuba. The company later moved its operations to the United States and has prospered in Los Angeles where it is now one of the largest coffee roasters in North America. Gaviña found his passion for coffee spending summers learning about the family business from his father Pedro Gaviña. He earned a bachelor's degree and a MBA in 2007 from Loyola Marymount University where he serves on the university's board of regents. Michael Gaviña Michael Gaviña in the coffee lab at F. Gaviña & Sons, Vernon, California. Photo credits: Photos courtesy F. Gaviña & Sons. Photo credits: Photos courtesy F. Gaviña & Sons.

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