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The Present Situation Regarding Organic Hops in Organic Beer

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  • The Present Situation Regarding Organic Hops in Organic Beer

    Under the present regulation, non-organic hops can be used in organic beer if organic hops are commercially unavailable. On October 28, 2010, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) recommended to the National Organic Program (NOP) to begin rulemaking action to require the use of organic hops in organic beer beginning January 1, 2013. The NOSB's recommendation recognized the significant growth in the availability of organic hops and encouraged brewers to begin a transition to using organic hops by securing their supplies now through forward contracting.

    Organic growers believe that the transition period, which includes two full growing seasons, is adequate time for an orderly conversion. The transition period takes into consideration that hops planted in the spring of 2011 will be in full production in 2012 and will be available to meet the brewers needs in 2013. Thus, the next few months are critical to this process.

    We urge organic brewers to convey market information on which varieties are in demand and what quantities are needed. Organic hop growers are ready to respond.

    In the meantime and during this transition, information on currently available organic hops can be obtained by contacting American Organic Hop Grower Association (AOHGA) members and by visiting the Accredited Certifiers Association's 606 Organic website (www.606organic.com). Today, the AOHGA believes some varieties of hops that are being grown organically are currently being used in a non-organic version in organic beer. We encourage organic brewers using non-organic hops to contact growers to ensure adequate quantities for 2013.

    In the next few weeks, the AOHGA will be sending out a survey to give organic brewers an opportunity to provide organic hop growers with information that has been up until now missing from the organic hop market.

    For more information on the AOHGA, please visit www.usorganichops.com.
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