HOPS SALES ARE HOPPING

HOPS are a hot commodity these days, and the prices reflect it. Demand from craft brewers led to an 11 percent increase in domestic production in 2O15 compared to the previous year. The US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service says production totaled 78.8 million pounds. Washington state produced 59.4 million pounds, followed by Oregon with 1O.6 million pounds and Idaho with 8.7 million pounds. Those three states produce about a third of the world’s supply. The Service said the preliminary value of the crop is $345.4 million, up 33 percent from the 2O14 crop. The report said growers received record prices because production shifted to higher-value aroma varieties in response to increased demand from craft breweries.

Production was up in all three states despite extreme heat early in the season and a low winter snowpack that influences irrigation. Washington had the highest number of acres harvested going back to 1915. Idaho had its highest production and acres harvested since 1944. Hop acreage in the Pacific Northwest has increased 48 percent in the last three years.