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At Yakima Chief Hops, we make it our mission to tell the stories of the family-owned, independent hop farms from which we source our hops, as we work to strengthen the connection between growers and brewers. We recognize that with this mission comes the shared responsibility to ensure that both YCH and our growers complement and positively reflect one another.
That is why we intentionally partner with family hop farms that share the same values that are deeply rooted within our heritage. We are proud to say that our core values are woven throughout our organization, from the way our growers farm their fields to the culture that is created within our offices. It is why brewers choose to buy our hops. Our company values are contained within our PRIDE statement as follows:
YAKIMA CHIEF HOPS PIONEERS
For six generations and counting, the family farms that makeup Yakima Chief Hops have been driven by the desire to help the entire the community thrives by constantly improving beer’s greatest ingredient, the hop.
Founded: 1940s
Base: WOODBURN, OREGON
Owned By: BRUCE, BILL & CHARLIE DAVIDSON
Website: www.yakimachief.com
Bruce, Bill and Charlie Davidson are the proud owners and fourth generation hop farmers of 3D Farm and BC Hop Farm Ltd. Their family farming operations began in the 1940s when their father, Jim Davidson, purchased 100 acres of farmland in the Willamette Valley and planted 10 acres of hops, all of which had to be hand-picked. In 1975, Jim purchased the first Dauenhauer picking machine along with three dryers and a Gasseling layer and baler. Working alongside their father, the three brothers purchased the farm in 1983 and continued to expand operations. In 1995, 3D Farm expanded to its current facility with two Dauenhauer machines, seven dryers, and a dedicated cooling and baling room. They have now expanded their production to more than 600 acres and nine varieties.
The Davidsons embrace sustainability and contribute to the hop industry’s environmental preservation efforts by utilizing solar panels as a renewable energy source. They also operate a grinder used to process hop plant waste created throughout the harvest season, which is then returned to the hop yards as compost. Outside of the fields, Charlie has served on the Board of Directors for Hop Growers of America and the Oregon Hop Commission.
