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THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF HOP GROWING Association established CHMELAŘSTVÍ, cooperative Žatec.
AT THE END OF THE 20 CENTURY In the same year, breeding research was reorganised, and
th
The state enterprise Chmelařství, Hop growing, was the association established the Hop Research Institute
founded in 1960 and underwent several reorganisations. Co., Ltd., Žatec, as the successor organisation of the
In the 1970s, the operation of the first production line of Hop Research Institute in Žatec. In 2000, the Interest
granulated hops, in the former hop packaging room on Association of Hop Entrepreneurs in Žatec transformed
Chmelařské Square, commenced. The new line began into the Hop Growers Union of the Czech Republic,
processing hop heads in the form of hop powder that which is the founder of the Hop Research Institute Co.,
has since been called "ground hops"; however, this Ltd., Žatec, and defends the interests of hop growers at
technology was soon modified to produce granulated home and abroad. The Hop Growers Union is a partner
hops because granules are easier to process in brewing. of Czech governmental organisations such as the Ministry
At the beginning of the 1990s, 65 % of dried hops were of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, European Union
still delivered to customers in pressed form, in ballots. bodies, and is a member of the Agrarian Chamber of the
Czech Republic or the Agricultural Union of the Czech
At the beginning of the 1990s, a change in the government Republic. The Hop Growers Union represents 93-95 % of
regime created new hop organisations. In 1990, the hop areas in the Czech Republic.
Cooperative for the Cultivation, Processing, and Sale
of Hops was established. The period of establishment In 1999, CHMELAŘSTVÍ, cooperative Žatec, became the
of the Cooperative for the Cultivation, Processing, and holder of a certificate of Quality Management Systems
Sale of Hops and strong expectations are probably best for the purchase, storage, processing, and sale of hops,
illustrated by the words of Ing. Miloš Kňákal, which according to international standards ISO 9002 (after
2. Description at the beginning of a new period of our hop growing. By was issued by the worldwide recognised company
he used in evaluating its foundation in 1990: "We are
revisions acc. to standards ISO 9001:2000). The certificate
concentrating practitioners and experts in production and
Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance. The cooperative gives
information about its activities on a well-structured
experienced commercially skilled workers in the sale of this
website (http://www.chmelarstvi.cz/). At present, the
crop, we will deepen the tradition not only in production
but also in technology and foreign markets. New science
and technology will then be applied in production, which cooperative is located in the new centre in Mostecká
Street No. 2580 (the area is part of the buffer zone of
will also ensure the required profitability and the overall the nominated property). The cooperative includes over
146 development of our hop growing." (Malířová, 2020). 100 Czech hop producers farming on 94–96 % of the
total hop field area in the Czech Republic: it is mainly
Two years later, the Cooperative was replaced by the engaged in the purchasing, storing, processing of hops,
Interest Association of Hop Entrepreneurs in Žatec. and trade in hops (Bohemia Hop joint-stock company).
A resolution at a membership meeting of the Interest Its other activities include hop growing mechanisation,

Aerial view of hop processing buildings, Chmelařské Square and Zeyerova Street, Žatec, 2006