HOP Products Australia (HPA) is set to begin bringing in this season's hops harvest this month and process it in the new multi-million dollar state-of-the-art pellet plant, packaging line and cold storage facility it has developed in Myrtleford.
After HPA purchased the former Tobacco Cooperative of Victoria (TVC) property in Myrtleford in August 2022, commissioning HPA Hop Central in time to process the 2025 crop was the final piece of the puzzle.
The industrial site contains four separate buildings, totaling more than 22,000 square metres.
HPA aims to effectively double its former processing capacity, with the new facility to support the centralisation of pelleting and packaging hops from HPA’s Victorian and Tasmanian growing regions which will total 900 hectares or an estimated 2400 metric tonnes.
"In January, we successfully concluded the wet commissioning of Hop Central," an HPA spokesperson told the Myrtleford Times.
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"The commissioning process utilised hop bales set aside from crop 2024.
"As we lead up to the first harvest using our new facility, all major building works are complete.
"[Throughout February], additional signage, landscaping and driveway resurfacing was completed at the site."
HPA is Australia's largest hops grower and it said this season has been good so far, with early indications this year’s harvest will meet both yield and quality expectations.
"Last year's dry and cold winter created the perfect conditions for dormancy, while the wet and hot summer resulted in rapid growth and robust plants with the greatest number of flowering sites in recent memory," the spokesperson said.
HPA said it is committed to being a positive presence in the sustainable development of High Country Victoria, with job creation, skills development and priority purchasing of local products and services "fundamental to our values".
The facility currently employs around 40 permanent staff, which rises by almost 300 casual staff over harvesting time.
HPA said the design of the new facility was focused on addressing quality concerns associated with operating a small, aging pellet plant.
It said its vision of success for crop 2025 is to deliver the highest possible hop quality, with the lowest possible flavour variability.
HPA said its investment in HPA Hop Central will reduce the spread of analytical data across lots, which will translate to more consistent performance in beer, ultimately giving its brewing customers one less production challenge to face.
HPA's brewing customers include local the High Country brewery system, national craft breweries, as well as international craft breweries.
Approximately 40 per cent of the crop will remain in the domestic market, with the remaining 60 per cent exported to craft beer markets around the world.
HPA invites locals to celebrate the harvest season at Bridge Road Brewers’ 'High Country Hop' held from 21 to 23 March and Bright Brewery’s 'Hop Harvest Celebrations' throughout the month of March.
HPA’s board members will visit Myrtleford in late April for a scheduled board meeting and hold an official opening ceremony for the facility.
