Hopsteiner prepares for another rewarding hop harvest in 2018

JULY 16, 2018 (WASHINGTON) – Hopsteiner, one of the foremost hop-growing, trading, breeding and processing firms in the world, is looking forward to a bountiful 2018 harvest season this coming fall after what turned out to be a successful planting season. The 2018 Pacific Northwest hop acreage is forecasted to increase to a record high of 55,339 acres. As reported by USDA-NASS, this is an increase of 4% from last year’s 53,282 acres. Hopsteiner’s hop farms in the U.S. are located in Yakima, Washington, a region that accounts for 71% of the nation’s total hop acreage.

Harvest season arrives in Yakima at the end of every August. Hopsteiner – who offers a hop variety for every flavor and aroma – increased acreage slightly this year, but harvest production is set to be more efficient and successful due to technological and process changes the farms have recently made.

In order to build better scouting reports and more accurate protection treatments for hop crops, a new software for plant data and plant protection application was implemented for the 2018 season. Hopsteiner hired a new agronomist, Andres Pascal, to collect samples, harvest plant data, and arrange for better fertility and the benchmarking of plant figures.

Hopsteiner also made several important infrastructural investments this past year. These included updates to hop combines, a new conditioning warehouse and kiln at Hopsteiner’s Mabton Ranch, and new conveyers for “hands-free” output. To ensure even higher quality of the hops, both River Ranch and Roza Ranch added new unloading and loading docks with conditioning bins to eliminate any additional touch or contact with the harvested crops.

“Lupulin glands can be easily damaged if not handled correctly, and every added contact point can jeopardize the quality of the product,” said Mike Leonard, Farm Operations Project Manager. “Through better constructional output, we are able to eliminate those points of contact, keeping hops where they belong, and ensuring the lupulin glands remain intact.”

The ever-growing popularity of aroma-heavy beers in the craft market seems to be driving demand for heavy flavored hops. Cascade, a very aromatic, fruity, and citrusy variety, makes up 11% of total hop acreage (per USDA-NASS). Rounding out the top five are two other popular aroma-forward hops:Centennial and Zeus.

Through the success of its unique breeding program, Hopsteiner has successfully bred uniquely flavorful and aromatic hops with attributes that push the boundaries on disease resistance, aroma/bitter components, and crop yields.

One of Hopsteiner’s newest and most popular hop varieties, Lemondrop™, is another citrus-forward variety available in leaf, pellet, and oil form. This popular hop offers a unique lemon-citrus character with a pleasant aroma. The bright citrus and subtle herbaceous notes are perfect for sessionable beers. While ales tend to bring out its sweeter side, Lemondrop™ is delicate and refined enough for quality pilsners and light lagers.

All planting is done sustainably, as protection of the environment is a top priority. Hopsteiner has recently been accepted as a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform and is GLOBALG.A.P. certified, thus meeting the worldwide standard for good agricultural practices.

To see the complete 2018 acreage report, please click here. You can also see the list of all hop varieties available through Hopsteiner here. And, additional hop varieties and hop products can be found on Hopsteiner’s Portal, where orders can be placed directly online.

ABOUT HOPSTEINER
Hopsteiner is a sixth-generation global hops supplier dedicated to delivering the finest hops and hop products available. Founded in 1845, Hopsteiner connects brewers with unique hop varieties from across the globe, offering a wide range of services and innovative hop products as one of the foremost international hop-growing, breeding, trading, and processing firms in the world. Hopsteiner’s products are designed to enhance flavor, aroma, consistency, and flexibility for brewing and beyond. Learn more at: Hopsteiner.com.