Hops farmers shift to specialty aroma hops


Large beer companies have reduced contracts with hops farmers due to a surplus, so to adapt, the farmers are catering to smaller craft breweries.

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Northwest hops farmers have seen a decrease in demand for their product from large beer companies, but that doesn’t mean there is no longer a market for their crops.

To adapt, farmers like John Annen of Mt. Angel are switching over to growing specialty aroma hops for craft breweries.

“I’d much rather do business with them than be a corporate vendor number,” Annen said. “I like to do business with people who appreciate all the hard work you do.”

Craft brewers — independent firms with relatively low beer sales — appear to be bucking the negative economic trends that plague their much bigger counterparts.

Read the full story at Capital Press.

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