Washington Hop Commission

Earlier this week, the Washington State Department of Agriculture announced the USDA had awarded the Evergreen state $4.2 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant program.

The hop industry is reeling from the announcement that two of its researchers were fired, thanks to the Administration's ongoing effort to trim federal spending.  Maggie Elliot, Science and Communication Director at the Washington Hop Commission and Hop Growers of America, said Hop Horticulturist Dr. Paco Gon...

Ann George, Executive Director of the Washington state Hop Commission was recently honored by the state Department of Agriculture. Last week, she was presented the WSDA’s Director’s Citation, which is given to those in the farming community who the Department says have devoted their lives to promote and enhance agriculture in the state. “Ann ha ...

To say 2020 has been a “unique year” for the local farm community may be an understatement, and that has been no different for local hop growers. Jaki Brophy, Washington Hop Commission and Hop Growers of America Communications Director, said while the 2020 harvest was large, smoke from September wildfires was a major contributor as to why the yield-per-acre decreased from last year. "Ba ...

Beer lovers should be happy with this year’s hops harvest in the Northwest.  Jaki Brophy, with the Washington Hop Commission, said 2018 looks like an “average year”.   “It’s not going to be a bumper crop as far as we know.  There were some split slum issues thi...

With the popularity of craft beers reaching new heights worldwide, hop growers in Washington are reaping the benefits.  According to NASS, 75% of American produced hops come from Central and Eastern Washington.  Jaki Brophy with the Washington Hop Commission said there’s more than enough to supply the existing breweries as well as the growing number of home brewers.   “There...