Hop Growers of America scales back (Beer Drinker Alert)

Capital Press ^ | 2004 & 2005 | Peggy Steward

[add925]

A trade organization that represents hop growers in Washington, Oregon and Idaho is downsizing.

Hop Growers of America will close its Yakima, Wash., office and switch from full-time salaried staff to contract employees utilizing a virtual office after Jan. 1.

The HGA’s website and many of its activities will continue, but its newsletter will be discontinued. Board membership will be reduced and the number of meetings cut back.

Industry consolidation has been kicked around for several years, in the wake of continuing low hop prices driven by world oversupply, said Doug MacKinnon, HGA manager in Yakima. The HGA cutbacks will save more than $150,000 a year, a major part of the association’s budget, MacKinnon said.

The cutbacks are being driven, in large part, by a reduction in funding from the Washington Hop Commission. The hop industry has undergone major acreage reduction in recent years and the number of growers is shrinking, said Ann George, administrator of the Washington Hop Commission in Moxee.

[Clemenza]

American Hops can't compete with those of Pilzen.

[The Toll]

Moderate amount of effort! Man that fits me to a tee!

[arkham]

There are several upstate New York brewers who are producing limited edition brews this season using New York hops. Perhaps NY will make a comeback in this category.

The best hops for European style lagers are still grown in europe, although many english style ales can use certain American hop substitutes with great success (IMHO only).

[arkham]

...but there are several American hop varieties which are distinct and delicious in their own right.

You can't make Sierra Nevada Pale Ale with anything but American hops.

[add925]

My family was from the Pils region in Czech....having been there and tasting the local brew...you may very well have a point.....great stuff and I don't mean Bud-like.

[add925]

You're right......that was what made me research it on the net one night, then ran across the US hop industry collapsing...kinda ticked me off.

I think the original Sam Adams used NY hops!