By David Fleet

Editor

Atlas Twp

.- Gov. Rick Snyder arrived in the township last Friday to visit a unique growing business.

Mark Trowbridge, owner of Top Hops Farm, 9530 Ridge Road, said that Snyder visited his farm to learn about his hops enterprise and get some perspective for business growth.

“The governor stayed about an hour and walked though the farm to see the hops growing,” said Trowbridge. “He asked questions about our business and was very positive about the future of the industry.”

Josh Paciorek, deputy press secretary for Gov. Snyder, said the planned visit to the township hops farm was about growing Michigan’s agricultural business.

“The hops industry has played a critically important role in Michigan’s reinvention,” said Paciorek.

“We’re home to the fourth largest hops industry in the nation, 70 hops growers, and eight processors. This year alone, Michigan has about 650 acres of hops strung for the 2016 harvest and 700–800 acres planted. By visiting places like Top Hops Farm, Governor Snyder is able to celebrate this industry’s growth and see the

positive impact hops farming has on our state’s thriving agriculture and tourism industries. Hops farming has a promising future here in Michigan.”

Snyder’s visit is due to the growing local hops industry.

Mark and Mel Trowbridge purchased 55 acres of farmland just south of Goodrich about eight years ago and four years ago Trowbridge Farms formed the hops yards of Top Hops. The local hops farm started with 120 plants and has now grown to about 16 acres of hops spread between 400 22-foot-tall poles connected with steel cable. The hops grow from a rhizome, which is essentially a piece of root purchased from a grower in the west Michigan city of Zeeland. The hops are actually flowers from the plant humulus lupulus. Beer brewers are most concerned with the sticky yellow lupulin glands inside the flower.

“The hops tastes like where it was grown—there are subtle differences. Buyers are looking for fresh, top quality hops. We are selling in 12 states now,” said Trowbridge

Top Hops Farms also has expanded from three varieties of hops— cascade, centennial and Chinook— to include Tahoma, Mt. Rhainier, Columbia and cashmere. Each type of hops will produce a different flavor of beer.

“We are just one of a growing number of farmers who are now trying to cultivate beer’s key flavoring ingredient,” said Trowbridge. “The craft beer industry continues to grow each year and so do the number of those growing hops.”

While only about 10 percent of all beers come from small local brewers, Trowbridge is confident southeastern Michigan will produce a unique taste and be a part of the supply chain.

Locally, Topped Out, an American Pale Ale (APA) style beer brewed by 51 North Brewing Company in Lake Orion, is using Top Hops for their brews.

From 1-5 p.m., July 16, the farm will be open for a walk in the hops yard and a guided tour of the farm. Learn how hops are grown and harvested, how to produce premium hops, see demonstrations of homebrewing and hear a discussion of plant health and nutrition. Learn how hops are grown and harvested and used by craft breweries, and see demonstrations of home brewing.