I'm calling BS
While I agree that it is a specialty product,trying to tell me that you'll be charging me the same as a dried hop is BS. The process is EXACTLY the same up until harvest. I personally pick up the hops from the farmer so his cost is LESS that traditionally dried hops. He is not drying them or packaging them (other than the cabbage bags which is a minimal cost). He has no investment in a packaging facility.
We contract our Wet Hops at $2.50 / lb. The dry hop equivalent would be ~$10-12 / lb. At this price, I am still paying a premium for the varieties I am using (vs. my contract prices) but am happy to do so because of the difference in the hop. I would laugh if the farmer tried to charge me $5-7 / lb given the amount that I need to use. I'm all for local, but I will not support local if it entails getting bent over.
Cheers,
Dave
David Schlosser
Brewmaster / Founder
Naked Dove Brewing Company
Canandaigua, NY