The Golden legacy of puyallup valley hop farming
- Lucille's Gourmet Honey
- Mar 16
- 2 min read
Indigenous Hop Pickers in Western Washington - HistoryLink.org
Hello, South Sound beer enthusiasts and farm history fans! As we gear up for the inaugural South Sound Brewers Fest 2026, it's the perfect time to dive into the roots—literally—of what makes our region a craft beer paradise. The Puyallup Valley isn't just the backdrop for our festival; it's the birthplace of Washington's hop industry, a story of innovation, resilience, and community that continues to flavor our local brews today.
Let's hop back in time to 1865, when pioneer Ezra Meeker planted the first hop vines in the Puyallup Valley using cuttings from Olympia brewer Charles Wood. What started as a small experiment on Meeker's farm quickly blossomed into a booming industry. The fertile soil, mild climate, and abundant water from the Puyallup River created ideal conditions for hops, turning the valley into a green goldmine. By the 1880s, Meeker had earned the title "Hop King of the World," exporting hundreds of tons annually and even shipping to international markets when Britain's hop crop failed in 1882. At its peak in 1890, the valley produced over 9 million pounds of hops—harvested entirely by hand!
Indigenous Hop Pickers in Western Washington - HistoryLink.org
One of the most inspiring virtues of this era was the sense of community it fostered. Hop harvesting was a family affair, drawing workers from urban centers, local tribes (including Puyallup, Nisqually, and Muckleshoot peoples), and even entire villages from the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and Alaska. Indigenous workers played a vital role, often bringing whole families to the fields where they combined labor with socializing, basket weaving, and salmon fishing during downtime. This collaborative spirit not only built economic wealth—supporting thousands of jobs and fueling the growth of towns like Puyallup—but also wove cultural threads that enriched the region.
Indigenous Hop Pickers in Western Washington - HistoryLink.org
Of course, like any great story, there were challenges. In the 1890s, a devastating hop lice (aphid) infestation wiped out crops across Western Washington, forcing production to shift eastward to the Yakima Valley. But the Puyallup Valley's legacy endures: It laid the foundation for Washington's dominance in hops, producing over 75% of the U.S. supply today and inspiring innovative varieties like Cascade (citrusy and floral) and Chinook (piney and spicy) that define PNW beers.
File:Hop pickers, possibly the Puyallup Valley, unidentified farm, Washington, ca 1889 (BOYD+BRAAS 76).jpg - Wikimedia Commons
This hop heritage is at the heart of South Sound Brewers Fest—hosted on the sacred soil of McMillin Farm Collective, where we'll celebrate 10 local breweries pouring beers infused with that same innovative spirit. Join us on August 29, 2026, for unlimited tastings, live music headlined by Santa Poco, farm tours, and food trucks, all while supporting Celebrate HARVEST in preserving our agricultural roots.
Ready to taste the history? Grab your tickets now at https://celebrateharvest.ticketspice.com/south-sound-brewers-fest and check out our merch shop for official tees and gear. What’s your favorite hop variety? Drop a comment below!
Cheers,
Todd Olson
Event Coordinator, South Sound Brewers Fest 2026
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