Bulk Hops Shipping from Washington

Is beer your business? Like most businesses, you need to ensure that your products and supplies are delivered on time and in excellent condition.  Bulk hops shipping is one way you can get the quantity you need of this essential ingredient to your brewery safely and securely. Learn more about the bulk hops shipping process.

Bulk hops shipping is the process of moving truckloads of this essential beer ingredient from grower to processor, and ultimately to the brewer or end user. Bulk hops shipping involves careful consideration, from temperature control to quarantine rules to mildew considerations.

Where do Hops Grow?

A large percentage of the hops grown in the United States come from Washington.

The location of the product plays a significant role in the delivery process. Shipping from a faraway destination is going to add to the costs, as well as the specialization included in getting them to your premises. Therefore, it’s vital to try and cut back the mileage where possible, and Washington state has the answer. The Yakima Valley is America’s spiritual home for hops, accounting for three-quarters of acreage in the US, as well as 77% of all production in the country. 

The reason Yakima is incredibly important to hop production is its climate. Because of its desert-like conditions, the extreme hot and cold temperatures mix with excellent irrigation to split the valley into three growing regions. This is perfect for wine, hops and more.

This means the following hops are available to businesses:

• Willamette
• Cascade
• Mt. Hood
• Columbus/Tomahawk
• Zeus
• Nugget
• Galena

Need help with freight shipping from Washington to California? See how an expert freight partner can help you haul hops and more.

How Are Hops Shipped?

You’re familiar with how fragile hops are as a brewer, but you need your carrier to be as understanding. Therefore, the best option is to educate yourself so that you know what to look for in a shipping partner. These are the factors synonymous with bulk hops shipping that are worth remembering.

1. Temperature: Air and the ambient temperature both play parts in hop deterioration. To ensure they remain untouched, the temp must be inside the 30 to –5 °F range. Also, it’s imperative to negate exposure to air.
2. Compression: Taking the air out of any environment is going to be challenging. And, the cold temps only protect hops to be a point. Thankfully, compression techniques help to fill in the gaps. Pellets are particularly popular with brewers as they remove oxygen from the process as they are easy to vacuum-pack.
3. Light: Light adds to the deterioration of hops, which isn’t a problem when they are in your freezer. After all, the majority of them are dark. Trailers and trucks might use lights in their cooling systems, and that’s why you need to ask for a black-out service.

To maintain their essential oils, bulk hops shipping solutions must eliminate light and oxygen where possible while regulating a steady temperature.

Hops are an essential part of the beer-making process. Got your brew ready to go? Learn more about shipping beer by the truckload.

Regulations for Shipping Hops and Plant Materials

Sources of hops have flourished as breweries and microbreweries have become more popular. Although this is a good thing in terms of your options, it does mean that regulations around bulk hops shipping have changed. 

The most important factor is your local (state) hop commissions. They can work independently or in conjunction with other commissions to ensure distribution is less strict. At the moment, hop plants in Washington, Oregon and Idaho can be distributed freely under their quarantine rules. Anything outside of these regions is open to more rigid rules, which is another reason the Yakima Valley is an integral part of hop production in the US.

Hops also come from Oregon and Idaho. Do you need help with freight shipping from Oregon to California? See how a strategic freight partner can make the journey easy.

Hop Powdery Mildew in the Pacific Northwest

Why do the quarantine regulations change depending on the state? One of the biggest reasons is the prevalence of the powdery mildew fungus. While the Pacific Northwest is home only to one strain of ‘mating,’ the rest of the country is subject to two as the fungus is commonly found in greenhouses and nurseries. Studies suggest that flexible rules for hops outside of the Pacific Northwest, then, could have catastrophic effects on the plants.

To protect your product, you can:

• Select resistant varieties
• Consider the plant source
• Check out hops for flag shoots in spring
• Ask for pruning to take place later in the season (limits the damage to the yield)

Using these techniques can reduce the chances of powdery mildew impacting your bulk hops shipment. As outbreaks of the disease are getting more severe, they are more essential than ever.

Bulk Hops Shipping with R+L Global Logistics

You need a reliable and consistent organization that you can trust, which is why R+L Global Logistics is the perfect partner for your bulk hops shipping needs. Regardless of the project and specifications, we can find the correct expert and carrier for the job.

Thanks to our decades of experience in the industry, we possess the knowledge required to make sure your delivery goes smoothly. We offer more than 99% on time delivery, along with the truckload shipping services you need, like:

• Expedited freight shipping
• Refrigerated freight shipping
• Trade show freight shipping
• White glove delivery
• And more…

If you’re not sure what service you need, there’s no need to fret. All you have to do is call us now for a tailor-made freight quote. There is no hassle, just a partner that wants to take care of your cargo and shipping requirements. Call us today at (866) 353-7178 or contact us online.