File:Hop field, ca 1905 (MOHAI 3382).jpg

English:

Beginning in the 1880s, hop growing brought great prosperity to western Washington state. In 1888 alone, over three quarters of a million pounds of hops were harvested in the area. The boom waned in the early 1890s when the fields were attacked repeatedly by an insect pest.

In western Washington, hop vines were grown on tall poles. At harvest time, workers lowered the vines and picked the hops into wooden boxes. The boxes were a standard size and had handles so that two people could carry them. Pickers were paid by the box or by the pound.

After harvest, the flowers of the hop plant were dried in a heated kiln. They were then baled and sold to brewers for making beer and yeast.

Caption on image: Hop field, State of Washington. Caption by MOHAI staff.

• Subjects (LCTGM): Hops--Washington (State); Farms--Washington (State)