Good news for brewers

Australia’s largest hop grower, Hop Products Australia (HPA), part of the Barth Haas Group, has planted the first 50 hectares at their new farm in Victoria’s Buffalo River Valley. The AUD 35 million expansion project aims to increase HPA’s total hop production by 50% over a period of six years, further increasing supply of their proprietary hop varieties to Australian and international brewers.

It is anticipated that 150 new hectares will be planted during phase one of this project, as well as the construction of a new harvest complex comprising 6 kiln floors and space for two pickers. Phase two will see an additional 150 hectares planted plus an extra 6 kiln floors at full production by 2024.

This latest expansion follows the AUD 15 million project completed between 2015 and 2017, which resulted in a 75% increase in HPA’s production. The new land will bring HPA’s total farming operations to 900 hectares across Victoria and Tasmania.

HPA’s Managing Director, Tim Lord, has overseen the expansion. “It is important that HPA remains responsive to industry trends. With the Australian brewing industry booming, the expansion will allow us to sustain supply locally, and go some distance toward fulfilling the global demand for our proprietary hops.”

20 new fulltime positions are planned as part of the expansion, as well as an estimated 130 casual positions to support the annual harvest once mature.

The first commercial hops from HPA’s new farm will be harvested in 2020.