By Jill Sperling

Kamloops hops farming operation setting down roots

May 20, 2016 | 3:35 PM

KAMLOOPS — The craft beer market has exploded in recent years, resulting in a high demand for good quality hops, the plants used to flavour beer.

$25 million worth of hops were imported into Canada last year, but the hope is to start growing more hops locally.

The largest hops farm in Canada, where the plants, and local employees are setting down roots is right here in Kamloops.

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The farm is located on the Tk’emlups reserve. 

Founder of Hops Canada, Joey Bedard, said while the operation already spans 240 acres, the plan is to expand. 

“We’d like to add another 240 (acres) either this year or next year,” he said, “and get this operation to about 660 acres.”

It cost approximately $6 million to start up the hops growing operation last year. With the farm still in its infancy it will take some time before the perennial plants really take off.

“The first one to three years is a maturity – so they work on their roots, establishing other rhizomes so they spread horizontally and vertically. Then by year four they start really growing a lot.” 

Bedard owns 33 per cent of the farming operation, the other 66 per cent belongs to the Kamloops Indian Band. 

The band’s chief executive officer, George Petel, said the farm is an excellent operation for the band.

“Not only is it labour intensive and it allows a lot of our band members to come work for the organization,” Petel said,  “it also gets us to utilize the land which traditionally through our organization and through the Kamloops Indian Band itself we’ve had a farming culture for years and years. 

“So reintroducing that agricultural culture into the community has been highly sought after and the community itself is really looking forward to it.”

The band will eventually buy out Bedard’s share of the farm as it seeks to become self-sufficient in its operations. 

“As the world grows and as … produce becomes limited, especially through California, I think that our region, with the sun belt, we could really benefit from having more produce come from our area.”

Until the buyout takes place, Bedard is happy to be working alongside the band. 

Hops Canada sold approximately $2 million worth of brokered hops last year, but with the Kamloops operation the goal is to replace the imports with locally grown product. 

“I wouldn’t say there’s a lack of hops in the world,” Bedard said. “There’s a lack of good quality, aromatic, North American hops, and that’s what we’re focused on here is growing high quality, good smelling hops so that they can make those northwest style IPAs.”

While he sells to customers all over the world, Bedard makes a point of supporting local breweries like Red Collar and The Noble Pig.