Hops With a Side of Tacos: Harvest in the Yakima Valley | CraftBeer.com

In September, I traveled to Yakima, Washington, during the height of hop harvest to report a story I've been itching to write for years: the intersection of tacos and hop harvest.

Historically, hop farms relied on a largely Mexican migrant workforce that followed the harvests, typically winding a route from Texas to California and Washington to pick produce along with plentiful Pacific Northwest hops. Today, Yakima County’s population is more than 50 percent Hispanic, and now there are scores of top-notch restaurants, trucks, and roadside stands to grab standout tacos of all kinds.

Moreover, Segal Hop Ranch and other hop farms celebrate the harvest by inviting brewers to select hops and eat plenty of tacos. I spent four days eating and drinking my way around Yakima to report this story, visiting tons of hop farms and eating at too many taco restaurants and trucks to count.