Hop Shortage Promises Record Prices for Farmers
A disappointing harvest in Western Washington valley regions leads growers to expect a massive spike in market prices.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
In spite of earlier promises of an increased yield of hops for this state, the 1904 season will show a shortage of at least 5,000 bales compared with last year. The total crop will not exceed 80,000 bales. The principal shortage is found in the Western Washington valley sections, largely at Kent, Puyallup, and Sumner. In the North Yakima district, the yield may show a slight increase. Growers expect to receive the highest prices in years, and the majority are holding for 30 cents a pound. With a known shortage abroad and a decrease in New York, California, Oregon, and Washington, growers remain optimistic about their profits.
“To offset the short crop, the growers expect to receive the highest prices in years.”
The agricultural economy of the early 20th century, particularly hop production, was the backbone of rural industry in the Puget Sound basin. The volatility of these markets mirrors the boom-and-bust cycles that define Washington's commodity-based industries to this day.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.