New Zealand: Nelson hop growers report higher yields, good levels of alpha acids this year

Nelson hop growers have begun this year's harvest in much better heart, having already pre-sold most of their crop for prices that should return them to profit, The Stuff reported on March, 2.

After struggling last year with poor yields and low prices, growers were feeling far more optimistic, said Kim McGlashen, of Mac Hops near Motueka.

Picking has just begun on his property, and those of most of the other 16 growers in Tasman district who make up the New Zealand hops industry.

Between 700 and 750 tonnes are expected to be harvested, whereas last year the crop fell below 700 tonnes.

Mr McGlashen said about 12 staff would be working two shifts a day over the next month to harvest the 45 hectares he grows for his company and joint venture partners.

Early indications were that yields would be average – a big improvement on last year, when they were down 15 per cent, he said.

The hops had coped well with the wet spell before Christmas and the cooler summer, and there had been very little wind to cause damage before harvest.

As a result, they were picking "beautifully", and tests showed they had good levels of alpha acids, which give beer its bitterness.

Unlike last year, when some growers hadn't bothered stringing all their crop, most were growing as much as they could, Mr McGlashen said, as there had been a big turnaround in the market, driven by increasing demand for specialty aroma hops, which New Zealand excelled at.

"The market has been boosted by the interest in craft beers, and the unique flavours and styles that New Zealand hops deliver make us popular in the international marketplace."

It meant that growers had forward contracts for 95 per cent of this season's crop, which was brilliant and put them in a much better position than many other horticultural producers, Mr McGlashen said.

It also justified the industry's move away from growing low-value commodity hops, where there was a world surplus, to focusing on aroma-type hops, which earned higher prices. The high dollar remained a problem, "but in today's muddled world, we are in a fortunate position".

Dean Palmer, farm manager at Hinetai Hops at Tapawera, said it was good to be able to concentrate on growing the crop "without having to worry whether we can sell it at the end".

The wetter season meant Hinetai had saved on irrigation costs, although it was too soon to say if the lack of sunshine would affect yields.

02 March, 2012