Written by Mark Emiley Tuesday, 09 September :36 - Last Updated Tuesday, 09 September :54

Transcription

1 Hops Brew School Hop Harvestg Tour On ur hop fields, we first vited an organic field. I thk first thg I noticed while we were re was sheer number bugs flyg around. After vitg non-organic fields, number bugs present at first field was even more pronounced. I hate say it but sprays used keep pests at bay really make a difference. They have been lookg water spray/irrigation systems from above which help cut down pests as well. We didn't spend o long at th field but were ld stead normal harvests a couple thous pounds per acre, se fields were gettg as low as 400 lb/acre. That kd a sacrifice yield tremendous very difficult mata a prit on. New Zeal lucky not have pests we do here! Hence where most organic world come from. Next we'll dcuss harvestg. So, are typically grown up a trell, with four ma ves headg up from crown. They will climb up 18 feet produce most best up at p. To harvest m, first a mache works its way through field cuttg m f at 1/6

2 Hops Brew School Hop Harvestg Tour botm. Thk a truck with chasaws stickg out from front bumper. Once chords ves are hangg only from p, second team moves place. First re a "pickup truck" with a very wide bed with high walls (10-12 feet). Right behd it a second harvester truck comes through, th time with "chasaws" stickg out a lift on p. The pickup truck begs drivg through field (drivg basically ves so y move over p truck) with harvester right behd it such as harvester cuts ves at p, y fall lay down bed pickup truck. The ves start pile up very quickly. We ured two hop processg facilities (one medium sized one large). They were pretty much same between two so I will describe basic process. The trucks with back drive up harvestg facility. People n get on p trucks start attachg ves karabers which carry ves up a good 50 feet so y are hangg air. 2/6

3 Hops Brew School Hop Harvestg Tour "vertical hangg They n ves slowly food-processg move fall through wards an chasaw." array processg sharp teeth mache The which claws. leaves bestare described strippedas fa me, over else I thk with dangly see some everythg somethg. additional re. flyg Keep They strippg around, m said f whirrg, md people "ve next regularly tearg, time arms" lose have last fgers, happens thg a hs, down want arms, below, for do but anythg lean trust hours. shakers carry So, aimed mache f at endg n starts dryg up with movg facility just cones where, leavg y leaves, are heated facility stems up on athrough massive conveyor abeds series belt. These several belts belts 3/6

4 Hops Brew School Hop Harvestg Tour content, Talk about reach ysteamy temperatures be taken grassy, F ase facility rooms cool, dry were out. typically like Once a sauna fory 24 hours. reached for. Over desired hours, moture 4/6

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