Hip hip hooray for hops

The rising tide of the craft beer industry has lifted many industries and the latest is one of the oldest industries in Michigan: agriculture.

The Right Place, along with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, statewide hop growers, and several regional partners, has established the Michigan Hop Network, a nonprofit association dedicated to improving and promoting Michigan's developing hop-growing market.

The membership-based network will provide a variety of services and support to its members and the Michigan hop industry, including educational programming, access to university research, marketing promotions and alignment with other organizations to advance the interest of Michigan hop growers and craft brewing.

One of the organizations leading the efforts is the Barry County Chamber & Economic Development Alliance. Valerie Byrnes, president, says the efforts were kicked off in 2011 and that the Michigan Hop Network can have significant impact on the continued growth of the craft beer industry. She says the network will help on several levels beyond advocacy, education, business planning and research: "It will be a combination of helping existing hobby growers to expand their work and existing farms to add hops. Regional agriculture is a key economic driver in West Michigan." 

Besides The Right Place and MEDC, Byrnes says other active members of the coalition include the Michigan State Extension Service and the MSU Product Center.

The organization's founding members have approved the association’s bylaws, elected a board of directors and officers, and filed paperwork with the State of Michigan for official nonprofit status. Jeff Steinman, Owner, Hop Head Farms, was elected as Board Chair, Michigan Hop Network.

Byrnes anticipates a marketing site to be ready shortly that will provide more information on the organization's services. In the meantime, anyone with questions about the network is encouraged to contact The Right Place at [email protected].

Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and News Editor