Byron McDaniel, Gleaner Writer

Walderston, Manchester:

THE NEW chairman of the Coffee Industry Board (CIB), Joseph Johnson, has promised to intensify efforts to resuscitate the island's coffee industry and protect the internationally-acclaimed Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee brand.

Speaking with delegates at a coffee corporative meeting held at the Anglican Church hall in Mandeville, Manchester, on Tuesday, Mr. Johnson said the integrity of Jamaica's Blue Mountain Coffee needed protection and said he intended to improve the communication with players in the industry.

"We have to defend the brand, Blue Mountain Coffee, and the licensed players in the field also need to ensure quality control in the widest sense ... if we are going to have a coffee which is well recognised worldwide, " said the CIB head.

Mr. Johnson said the Blue Mountain Coffee brand will be registered in several countries and companies trading the highly sought after coffee will have to pay a royalty, which will be used to fund the programme to protect the brand.