Germany: Tettnang hop growers start new season positively and optimistically

After the climatically favoured best harvesting years 2019 (2,909.75 tonnes) and 2020 (2,850.82 tonnes), the Tettnang hop growers have started the new season in the two largest cultivation areas in Germany positively and optimistically, the Tettnang Hop Growers Association reports.

According to the statistical surveys, the number of production business in the region has remained constant at 125. The cultivation areas have increased from 1,479 ha to 1,494 ha (+1%).

Previously, there were 23 various varieties under cultivation in the Tettnang cultivation area, this number has increased to 25 with the new varieties Akoya and Aurum. The largest individual variety with 682 ha (minus 37 ha) continues to be the eponymous and typical local variety Tettnanger. The greatest increases have been registered by Perle (+ 24 ha), Hallertauer Tradition (+14 ha) and Herkules (+12 ha).

Only one business previously grew hops on ecological principles, there are now additional businesses and areas in the conversion phase. Currently, about 50% of the areas and volumes are already being produced sustainably under the SAI Standards (SAI = Sustainable Agriculture Initiative), and this proportion for 2021 is likely to increase by about 70%. A large part of the nationally and internationally stipulated sustainability criteria, currently 113 provisions, are regulated in Germany through existing laws and specific legislation. 26 additional, in part, hop-specific criteria of the economy, ecology and social sustainability, are assessed, documented and checked via the NH self-check. The German hop growing sector is thus fulfilling the desires of the customers and societally required changes.

If the second and third Corona waves have led to a drop off in demand, the Association now, with globally falling incidence figures for the brewery, catering and hop industries, looks optimistically to the future. The further development of the hop year 2021 for cultivation and sales remains to be seen.

07 June, 2021