After a very successful First Annual Meeting, graciously hosted by Four Star Farms, we are happy to announce the date of our first Winter Hops Conference.

Hopping to It!

March 26, 2010

10:00 – 3:00

Trapp Family Lodge

Stowe, Vermont

We have some very exciting guest speakers lined up!
Jason Perrault from Perrault Farms in Washington State is a fourth generation hop farmer. Over the last few years, Jason has been working on breeding hop varieties resistant to pests and suited to organic systems. Additionally, he is working on breeding varieties for low-trellis systems. Jason is also looking for more environmentally sustainable ways for hops producers to farm. He is on the Hop Research Council and is one of the breeders we can thank for the new variety, Simcoe.
Rick Pedersen of Pedersen Farms in Seneca Castle, NY has 10 acres and 15 varieties of hops on his 1500 acre vegetable and grain farm. He is a member of the Northeast Hop Alliance, and has been growing hops for over 10 years. In 2009 Pedersen Farms sold hops to breweries from Maryland, to Massachusetts, to Pennsylvania. Specialty “harvest” brews have been released in the Northeast, some made entirely with Pedersen Farms hops. Rick will share his experiences with growing in the Northeast, setbacks he has faced, and his encounters with the local brewing markets.
François Biron is an Innovation and Agroenvironmental Counselor and will be joining us from the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. He is part of a hops variety trial lead by a private research center (CREDETAO) in Pontiac, QC, and has been working with local growers and brewers to invigorate hops production in Quebec. He will share his observations and reflections on the future of hops in the Northeast.
The Trapp Family Lodge has recently established a brewery called Trapp Lager. Allen Van Anda, Trapp Family Brewmaster, will lead us on a tour of their facility where they hope to one day make a lager using their own organic hops and barley.

Lunch will be provided. Registration fee: $10.
Please RSVP by March 17th to UVM Extension at (802) 524-6501, or Heather Darby or
Rosalie Madden
Click here to download a pdf copy of the Brochure.
Directions: Take Exit 10 (Waterbury/Stowe) from I-89. Turn north onto Route 100 toward Stowe. Continue on 100N for approximately 7.5 miles. Turn left on Moscow Road just past the Fly Rod Shop. Continue 1.5 miles and turn right on Barrows Road. Continue on Barrows Road until you reach a T intersection, approximately 1.5 miles. Turn left at stop sign and proceed approximately 1.5 miles up a steep, winding paved road, following signs to Trapp Family Lodge, which will be on your right at the top of the hill.
If you require accommodations to participate in this program, please let our office know by March 17 so we may assist you.