Virginia farmers exploring hops as new crop

Gannett News Service photo

When rural communities in Virginia and West Virginia held a forum on regional innovation recently, one of the main topics was a new product that is growing in interest in Virginia: hops, reports Andrew Sharbel of the Loudoun Times-Mirror in Leesburg.

Sharbel writes that according to Kellie Boles, agricultural development officer for the Loudoun County Department of Economic Development, there are few hops growers on the East Coast. Most hops are raised in the Pacific Northwest. Boles said she thinks hops could be the key to fulfilling the county's rural economic development plan.

For more on production of hops, an essential ingredient in beer, here's a study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Washington produces 79 percent of the U.S. crop.