Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) and New Zealand Hops Ltd. (NZ Hops), the only Grower Cooperative in New Zealand have entered into a global partnership.
The move sees the joining of two of the leading aroma hop markets and means brewers will benefit from easier access to aroma varieties for their brews.
An enthused Percy Lam, Vice President of Sales – Asia for YCH, told the Asia Brewers Network “All Asian Brewers can now access the finest aroma hops from New Zealand under this global partnership arrangement”.
YCH have described the move as a “defining moment” in the hop industry as the two organizations sharing similar, grower-led, values come together. Both organizations are grower run cooperatives with mission to connect brewers and growers.
YCH was founded on the mission to connect family hop farms with the world’s finest brewers.
“Connecting family hop farms doesn’t just mean the families here in our back yard.” says Bryan Pierce, YCH’s Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, “Many of the growers from NZ Hops are cut from the same cloth, and are multi-generational families who have a passion for hops in their blood just like those here in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.”
Through this global partnership YCH will be a preferred supplier of NZ Hops products meaning that New Zealand hop varieties will be available to any brewery around the world where YCH or their direct distributors operate.
“Our farms have the best quality hops grown in New Zealand but we needed a partner that could help us get them to the world. There is no one better than Yakima Chief Hops when it comes to global access and reliability.” says Blair Stewart, NZ Hops General Manager Sales & Marketing.
As of now NZ Hops varieties in T-90 pellet are available through YCH and it’s distributors. Following the 2023 harvest in spring, YCH plans to produce Nelson Sauvin™, Motueka™, Wai-iti™, Wakatu™, Riwaka™, and Nectaron® varieties in their patented Cryo Hops® brand pellet form.
Yakima Chief Hops customers can access NZ Hops’ varieties via YCH’s regional sales team or can be accessed through a commercial brewer account at www.yakimachief.com/commercial/hop-wire/nz-hops-partnership.
