According to an article in Saturday’s Yakima Herald, in 2014 U.S. hop growers produced their largest crop in five years. Even so, they could not keep up with the international demand for craft beer.
Last year featured a 10% increase in acreage but low yields and high prices, according to statistics released last week by the Hop Growers of America.
Rising prices and crop size have been driven by the growth in craft beers, which need more hops and a range of flavors. Washington state’s Yakima Valley produces about 77 percent of the nation’s hops.
Check out the full article here. Here’s to another banner year!