"You're never too old to learn something new."
Yesterday was a marathon driving day for me. Driving conditions were perfect so I just kept going. I made 650 miles in 9 1/2 hours, finally stopping in southern Provo, Utah. I'm hoping conditions continue to be good for the next two days.
Anyway, today is another day on the road home for me but I scheduled this post to give you some insight into a Washington State crop I knew little about until last week.
Last Thursday I was having a conversation with an old schoolmate, and somehow the topic of hop growing in Washington State came up. I have lived in Washington State (Wenatchee Valley) 47 1/2 years and have been very aware of the crops grown in the area where I live. I never paid much attention to Hop crops grown further south in the Yakima Valley.
I knew we grew hops in the state but what absolutely shocked me was that:
Washington State produces 75% of the Hops grown in the entire United States!
I guess this explains the proliferation of breweries, rivaling wineries, in Washington State.
Here is a short video about hop growing in the Yakima Valley, 110 miles south of Wenatchee where I live. And, apparently, there is an expanding number of uses being discovered for the use of hops, not just beer.
Morning Carol.
I watched the video, like you I had no clue as to the amount of hops grown in Washington. Now, I wonder what I can find out about it. Who knows you may see a post by me later about the subject.
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
Good morning Carol - well I did not know that. I think of places like Wisconsin but I know now that Washington State is included.
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
I did not know that Washington was awarded the honor of being the top hop producer. Good to know! We use to grow a lot of hops here in the Sacramento region when I was a kid, but they slowly disappeared.
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
I had no idea how big those hops plants are! Interesting that this is where most of the nation's hops come from. I bet this is a question on Jeopardy at some point. :-) Thanks!
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
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Debb Janes
Camas, WA
Good morning Carol. Never gave it much thought but if asked my scientific wild ass guess would not have been Washington state. And now I know! Enjoy your trip. Safe driving!
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
HI Carol Williams - I learned something new today! Who knew! I am sure your drive home will be event free. Keep the rubber side down and the sunny side up as the truckers say!
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
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Debb Janes
Camas, WA
So, I guess that we could rightly say that the folks in Washington are hopping.
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
And you thought our main crops were red raspberries, apples, wheat, potatoes, and Christmas trees. :) Hoppy news and it doesn't surprise me a bit.
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
Drive safe on your travels home. Glad you have good weather so far. 9.5 hrs makes for a long day on the road. I used to do that but not anymore.
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
Always something new to learn isn't there Carol Williams ! Have a safe trip the rest of the way home!
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
We enjoy sampling the products of local breweries in our area.
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
Who knew?! I had no idea how hops were harvested, nor did I know they were compressed into pellets, nor about alpha - how cool is that, Carol? Thanks for sharing!
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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