Craft beer and American brewers have gained popularity recently. And owing in part to cooperation between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service and the U.S. hops industry, interest in these revitalizing, artisanal beverages is bouncing from continent to continent.

A hops processor at Loftus Ranches, a fourth generation family-owned hops farm in Washington’s Yakima Valley. With approximately 1,1000 acres in production, at Loftus Ranches, 11-12 varieties of hops are grown from mass production with an additional 30 varieties grown for experimental purposes. Loftus Ranches manages hops production from the point of propagation to manual trellising, harvest, mechanical picking, drying, baling, and cold storage. Brokers pellet and sell the final product directly to brewers or for export.

FAS offers producers and exporters financial and technical support through USDA initiatives like the Market Access Program and the Quality Samples Program to aid in the promotion of their goods abroad and the development of new international markets for American craft beer and hops. These two initiatives support the efforts of trade associations like Hops Growers of America (HGA) in expanding their clientele and promoting the superiority of American hops to international brewers.

“Today, craft beer commands about 20 percent of U.S. beer volume,” said Maggie Elliot, HGA Science and Communications Director. “And the momentum sparked by U.S. craft beer has stretched to worldwide markets, invoking an unprecedented demand for American hops.”

FAS is attempting to assist the American agricultural sector in meeting this rising demand on a worldwide scale, and the results are starting to flow in. For instance, American hop exports to Taipei increased by 366 percent in 2022 compared to 2021. The FAS Agricultural Trade Office in Taipei hosted the USA creative Beer Festival earlier this year, which showcased the rising interest in American hops and creative brews. The festival successfully promoted American components used in craft brewing and was warmly received, which led to direct sales of American hops.

In the United States, hops crops are currently in their harvesting season. The centre of American hops, Yakima Valley, Washington, is where growers are most active. Actually, Washington state accounts for 71% of all hops farmed in the United States. These three states collectively produce 98 percent of America’s hops, including Oregon’s 13 percent and Idaho’s 16 percent.

According to HGA, 70 percent of the American-grown hops are shipped abroad. Additionally, American hop exporters sell their products to more than 60 nations across many continents, with a projected global market value of $486 million in 2022. Additionally, with 45% of the world’s total hop production in 2022, the United States is the biggest producer of hops in the globe.

FAS is dedicated to assisting the U.S. hops sector in expanding its presence in existing as well as new international markets via cooperation, collaboration, and successful initiatives. According to Elliot, “keeping strong channels of trade has proven to be vital to the industry’s resiliency.”

SOURCE: Morning AGclips
PHOTO CREDIT: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service