The importance of Salmon-Safe certified hops

After this feature, you must read our Crosby Hop Farm diary. It’s 30 days of awesomeness.

In addition to selecting hops for their brewing characteristics, brewers should also consider sustainably-grown hop options and whether the hops they source have been audited for environmental sustainability by an independent third-party certification agency.

Crosby Hop Farm is a grower of Salmon-Safe certified hops, certified by the Oregon-based environmental certification organization that is the leading eco label for U.S. hops. Crosby Hop Farm manages more than 300 acres on the fifth-generation farm located in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. With a portfolio of more than 75 varieties, Crosby Hop Farm is a grower, merchant, processor, distributor and cold storage specialist, serving craft brewers of all sizes.

The 10 Crosby-grown hop varieties are Salmon-Safe certified and cultivated using farm management practices that care for watersheds so that native salmon can spawn and thrive. Our commitment to the management practices of Salmon-Safe certification includes:

• Protecting our 30 acres of undisturbed riparian habitat,
• Using drip irrigation to conserve water and minimize erosion,
• Implementing an integrated pest management program,
• Using cover cropping, and
• Maintaining pollinator gardens and native oak habitat restoration sites around the farm.

Brewers have a choice, and when brewers choose Salmon-Safe hops they are making a bold and powerful statement about their commitment to the health of the Northwest salmon watersheds where 98 percent of U.S. hops are grown.

Michelle Palacios is the marketing coordinator for Crosby Hop Farm.