The Essential Migrant Labor Behind Every Pint

As we welcome fall and reflect on the successes of 2024, it's impossible not to appreciate the beauty of hop harvest. Seeing the hop-heavy bines stretching for miles, ready to be picked, is truly inspirational. It’s a time of year that brings growers and brewers together, strengthening their bonds amidst the stunning backdrops of the Yakima, Willamette, and Treasure Valleys.
While the magic of hop harvest is undeniable, an important aspect often goes unnoticed: the tireless work of migrant farm workers. These individuals, who often work in a physically demanding capacity, are the backbone of North American agriculture, and their contributions to hop production ensure that global demand is met.
Growing and harvesting hops is highly labor-intensive and requires significant seasonal work to ensure the harvest of those delicate cones is completed on time. To meet these demands, growers often rely not only on the local workforce but also on Guestworker Programs to address the shortage of available labor. The federal H-2A Program allows agricultural employers to hire foreign workers to fill labor shortages on a temporary basis.
In the Pacific Northwest, our workforce includes a diverse group of H-2A workers, primarily hailing from Mexico and Central America, whose rich cultural backgrounds and expertise are invaluable to our operations. For several months each year, these individuals leave their homes and families and relocate to the United States, all to provide for their loved ones while ensuring our fruitful hop supply. Mountain West Ag Consulting specializes in food and worker safety, as well as H-2A compliance services. “If you talk to the farmers, most of them say they would be out of business without the H-2A Program,” notes Jennifer Uranga, consultant and owner of Mountain West Ag. “If you ask the foreign guestworkers, they say the program has helped them fulfill some of their lifelong goals – be that starting a small farm of their own, building a house, or sending their children to a good school.”
Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) owes its success to the dedicated hop growers who invest in their land and products, as well as the invaluable contributions of migrant farm workers. These workers are an essential function of the supply chain and the foundation of the hop harvest. Their efforts, both during and before harvest, are crucial to producing high-quality hops. As American hops from the Pacific Northwest are used worldwide, it’s important to recognize that they come from the hearts and hands of laborers beyond our borders.
Consider that every bine in every hop yard is hand strung. There are typically around 800 plants per acre, with some varieties requiring extra strings. Each acre of hop plants may hold anywhere from 1,600 to 2,400 strings. This tedious yet critical training process involves carefully wrapping each shoot to promote rapid upward growth; machinery cannot replicate this meticulous technique.




In January 2024, the Hop Growers of America released their 2023 Statistical Report, revealing that 54,318 acres of hops were harvested in the Pacific Northwest. While factors like equipment, the number of laborers on stringing crews, and hop yard maturity make it difficult to measure how many migrant workers are tending to each acre, it is safe to say that every one of those 54 thousand acres was tended to in some capacity by migrant workers.
"Let’s put this in perspective. As the world’s largest economy, the United States still depends on skilled, human touch to cultivate the foods that sustain us. That won't be changing anytime soon,” says Jeff Perrault, fourth-generation grower of Perrault Farms. “We are grateful for the diverse team of dedicated professionals who return to Perrault Farms year after year.”
We are proud to celebrate the essential individuals who strengthen our supply chain and make hop harvest possible. Joe Torres is a long-standing and cherished member of our farming community who just celebrated his 59th hop harvest. "Joe is like family to us. He has been with us through four generations,” says Jessica Reinhold of Carpenter Ranches. “Over the years, he has done all kinds of work on the farm. We can’t imagine a hop harvest without him, and we truly appreciate all his hard work and dedication in keeping our picking machine running smoothly.”


Joe Torres throws his 48th hat into the chopper to signal another harvest completed.
“One thing is certain,” says Uranga, “These workers are an absolute necessity for hop farms. Yes, technology can and will reduce labor needs. But farmworkers are the ones with their eyes (and hands) on the crop daily. They continue to make a difference year over year.”
Hop farming is a labor-intensive process that no machine can replicate. From twining and training the hops to stitching and stacking the bales, these people make it possible to deliver hops from our fields to your pints.
¡Salud a todos los trabajadores migrantes que son esenciales para la producción de lúpulo!
Cheers to all the migrant farm workers that are essential to hop production!




Yakima Chief Hops takes great pride in operating our business responsibly, emphasizing a focus on long-term success and the conviction that constructing value for both local communities and the planet is every bit as crucial as shareholder value. We work tirelessly to reduce our carbon footprint, lessen dependence on natural resources, and eliminate waste while empowering our communities along the way. We recognize that industry collaboration is the pivotal force for driving meaningful change and hope to inspire others to join us in creating a sustainable future.