U.S. Senator from New York Charles Schumer was in the Hudson Valley Monday. He stopped by a farm in Dutchess County, saying he hopes it will become the region’s first major “hop yard”.
There’s a new cooperative in Dutchess – Hudson Valley Hops. Here’s Schumer.
"It's a not-for-profit co-op whose mission is to bring brewers and farmers together to produce a very high-quality hop for our region."
And for the region’s beers. He says he is asking two federal agencies to help with financing to get the industry up and running. Dutchess Hops, in Lagrangeville, is planting its first season of organic hops, and hopes to be the first commercial hop farm in the Hudson Valley, and eventually the state. Currently, micro- and craft-brewers say they have to turn out of state, or even abroad, to purchase hops, one of beer’s ingredients. Schumer notes a potential private-public partnership could help to grow the industry more rapidly.