Expert: Ed Westemeier - 8/10/2010

Question
A couple of friends are interested in experimenting with expanding our home brewing a bit and are interested in looking for locally grown ingredients.  We're in Southwestern Ontario and I have no idea where to look.  We want to keep all ingredients local if possible.  Is there anywhere that sells hops, etc on a small scale in Southern Ontario?

Thanks

Answer
One possibility is Baron Farms. I don't know if they are still in the business of growing hops, but you might give them a try. It's a farm between Toronto and Ottawa, near highway 7.
Contact clive@ontariohops.ca

Another possibility is Arts Dale Farms, between London and Kitchener. No email, but a phone number is (519) 283-6365.

Except for those references, I don't know of anyone who might grow hops in that region. Due to climate factors, almost all hops in North America are grown in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

You could always buy hop rhizomes from a commercial grower and plant them to grow your own, of course. Two good sources are Freshops (http://www.freshops.com/) and Puterbaugh Farms (http://www.hopsdirect.com/).