Greenhouse-grown hops? Florida scientists brewing up new potential

Added on 09 May 2024

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Greenhouse-grown hops? Florida scientists brewing up new potential

University of Florida scientists have been endeavoring for years to make hops a staple crop of the Sunshine State.

Less-than-ideal growing conditions though (shorter daylength, weather extremes, disease pressures, among others) remain a challenge and have ultimately kept beer’s main ingredient a novelty crop in Florida — so far. That could be changing sooner than later thanks to a new study that puts hop production in greenhouses.

UF/IFAS Assistant Professor Katherine Thompson-Witrick is leading the study backed by a grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. According to Thompson-Witrick, growing hops under cover has “never been done in Florida.”