The ADHA, formerly known as the American Dwarf Hop Association, has changed its name.
The ADHA began as a collaboration between growers interested in the progressive development of hop growing practices in the US and breeding hop varieties adapted for those practices, specifically low trellis production.
What started out as a venture into the development of dwarf hop varieties at first for low trellis production and later standard trellis cultivation has evolved into an effort to breed for durable good agronomy, disease resistance, unique aroma, and broad adaptation to different growing regions. While these aspirations are high, so are our standards. The ADHA continually invests in research into varietal development and hop production techniques. We are working to find solutions to the challenges presented to farmers by the global nature of our world in the 21st century.
What we have learned through several generations of knowledge and experience growing hops is that quality comes not only from good genetics, but from thoughtful and intentional growing practices. We view the crop as part of an ecosystem that has to be cultivated as a whole and not just on the plant level. We don’t strive to tame nature, but rather learn from it to optimize the conditions that make our hops thrive.
We believe that being environmentally friendly and profitable are not mutually exclusive. The ADHA encourages sustainable growing practices while maintaining profitability for the grower. As hops are a food product, we expect our growers to adhere to certifiable standards to ensure the quality, traceability, and safety of the hops they produce for our beer drinking consumers.
WHAT ABOUT LOW TRELLIS PRODUCTION?
Is the ADHA completely moving away from its dwarf roots and low trellis production? The answer is no. We maintain a diverse archive of varieties and continue to breed for adaptability for a time in the future when low trellis production becomes an economically viable option again. By breeding for varieties that adapt well to both low and standard trellis systems we will be well prepared for any major shifts the industry may see in the future.