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Hop, apple and cherry commissions report shrinking acreage, uncertain markets and budgets
Summary
Candy Fitch, executive director for Idaho’s hop, apple and cherry commissions, told the House Agricultural Affairs Committee that U.S. hop production and Idaho hop acreage have declined, specialty‑crop grant funding supports marketing, and growers face labor and market‑demand pressures including H‑2A costs.
Candy Fitch, executive director for the Idaho Apple Commission, Idaho Cherry Commission and Idaho Hop Growers Commission, briefed the committee on market conditions, membership activity and budgets across the three commissions.
Fitch said the U.S. national hop report released in December 2024 showed U.S. hop production down 16 percent year‑over‑year, harvested area down 18 percent and total value of production down 21 percent; the report also showed average hop yield higher by 29 pounds. She told the committee Idaho hop acreage has fallen — the report showed 9,561 acres in 2022 and 5,797 acres in 2024 — and additional reductions were expected for 2025. Fitch described the current industry challenge as an oversupply in prior years and softer demand as some consumers shift from beer to other beverages.
On budget matters Fitch said the hop commission based its 2024–25…
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