Highly committed
hop growers
From the young plant we plant in the ground
to the full, fragrant hop cone
- we treat our hops and nature
in a responsible, sustainable way.
He was never someone who simply went with the flow. He wanted to change something. Franz decided early on to do something that was still quite unusual in his industry, namely he attended a course on organic farming in 1976. And yes, he was ridiculed for it. Pioneers are often not understood. But Franz didn’t mind much. For him, it was clear that the goal wasn’t getting the best harvest, but the health of the plants and preserving soil fertility. It was always a cycle – give and take in harmony with nature.
The real challenge starts back on his farm. How do you put what you’ve learnt into practice? And that’s how Franz began to develop his own seed mixes. He experimented, mixed, improved. Variety was the magic word. But he wasn’t just inventive in the soil. He also developed an innovative drying process that still makes a difference to this day. Thanks to the recirculation of the hop condensate using a refrigerated dryer, the hop quality always remained at the highest level.
Now, many years later, you can still feel this pioneering spirit in every one of our hop fields. Franz left us not just a cultivation method, but an entire philosophy. Every time we hold a hop cone in our hand, we know it’s the result of years of dedication and respect for nature. And that’s exactly what we want to share with you.
37
HEKTAR ANBAUFLÄCHE
13
HOPFENSORTEN
3
GENERATIONEN
16
HOPFENHELDEN
Did you know that hops also thrive in their full glory in Franconian Switzerland? It may not be as well-known as Hallertau, but the quality of our hops will convince you.
1802
The beginning of our story: In 1802, the farm was crowned with an inscription on the gable. This moment not only marks our artisan heritage, but also the start of a long family history that can still be felt in every fibre of our farm to this day.
Before 1908
Ursula Singer, daughter of Christoph Singer, runs the farm with a determination that is deeply rooted in her responsibility for the family. Her hard work and diligence ensure its survival in difficult times and have shaped the farm to this day.
1908–1945
The married couple Katharina and Georg Friedrich run the farm with their heart and soul. The world is rapidly changing, but their love of farming and their dedication keep the farm on track.
1945–1975
After the war, Maria and Heinrich Friedrich run the farm and continue to develop it. Their passion and dedication get the business through difficult times.
Spring 1975
The farm passes into the hands of Franz Friedrich. With the handover, he acquires 15.56 hectares of land, including 3.56 hectares of forest and 3.5 hectares of hops. The inventory: 14 dairy cows and two old tractors, a Porsche and a holder. But Franz sees more than that - he sees the potential for the future
May 1975
The wedding of Franz and Sonja Friedrich not only seals their love, but also their joint vision for the farm. They set sail for the coming era, where tradition and innovation go hand in hand.
1976
Franz Friedrich is a pioneer. In 1976, he attends a conversion course for organic farming at the Department of Agriculture in Hersbruck. A bold step that paves the way for sustainable agriculture and lays the foundation for the farm’s success in the decades to come.
1977
Franz Friedrich dares to take the first big step: One hectare of farm land is converted to organic farming and the first rye is sold to Berlin. It’s an exciting moment, in which Franz promotes his vision of a more sustainable form of agriculture. In Trailsdorf, he makes valuable contacts, including with Dr. Preuschen, a pioneer in organic wine growing. At an environmental congress in Berlin, he meets important collaborators such as Environment Minister Dr. Goppel and the owner of Neumarkter Lammsbräu Franz Ehrensberger, who encourage him in his efforts.
Spring 1980
Franz makes the first attempts to grow hops organically. It's a pioneering project that presents many challenges. However, thanks to Dr. Preuschen, a valuable connection is established with Neumarkter Lammsbräu, which lays the foundation for a long-term partnership.
Autumn 1982
The first sale of organic hops to Neumarkter Lammsbräu is a milestone. The hops are marketed via a marketing company in Berlin and this shows that the organic route is the right way to go - even though the market is still small.
Autumn 1983
The year brings a serious setback: Total failure of the organic harvest. It’s a hard test for Franz and Sonja, but they don’t let themselves get discouraged. The dream of organic hop growing lives on.
Step by step
The conversion to organic continues, albeit slowly. Bit by bit, all the hop fields are converted to organic farming and Neumarkter Lammsbräu remains a loyal partner. However, the market is small - only 20% of the hops can be sold as organic. Joining the producers’ association ”Bioland” gives Franz additional support and inspiration.
Step by step
While the hop fields continue to be converted to organic farming, the sales market remains tight. But Franz sticks to his vision. The connection to the producers’ association “Bioland” opens more doors.
Since 1989
The entire enterprise is now organically certified, but marketing is sluggish. Despite the challenges, Franz does not allow himself to be discouraged - he is convinced that organic is the future.
1995
The market is opening up slowly and, thanks to the loyal support of Neumarkter Lammsbräu, 50% of the hops can now be marketed as organic. The dream takes on more and more concrete forms.
Step by step
The organically farmed hop fields increase to around 37 hectares and the arable land is expanded to 190 hectares. Franz has made his business one of the largest organic hop-growing farms in Europe.
2015
After decades of hard work, setbacks and perseverance, he finally manages it. All the hops are marketed as organic. Franz’s vision has become a reality and the farm is on a stable, sustainable footing for the future.
2020
The corona pandemic presents us all with unexpected challenges. Seasonal workers couldn’t enter the country as normal and suddenly the hop harvest was in jeopardy. Yet, this crisis highlights the deep bonds that connect us with our partners: breweries from the region and beyond send their own staff to help us with the harvest. Together, we roll up our sleeves and manage to successfully complete the hop harvest. It was a real win-win situation for everyone - a sign of how important it is to stick together and support each other in difficult times.
2020
We are proud to host a learning module for the soil practitioner course for hop growing offered by the Bioland association. On our farm, participants who previously worked in conventional agriculture learn what it means to grow hops according to ecological principles.
2020
We experience a deep connection between the breweries and our farm. More and more large breweries are sending their apprentices to us so that they have the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with the product they work with on a daily basis. Here, in the middle of the hop fields, they learn how much dedication, care and work goes into every single hop cone. They experience first hand how hops grow and learn about the importance of organic cultivation for the quality of beer. This experience not only shapes the apprentices, but also our long-standing cooperation with the breweries. The direct exchange creates a deeper understanding and strengthens awareness of the origin and sustainable cultivation of our organic hops. This strengthens the bond between brewers and hop growers - a partnership that shares not only products but also values.
January 2023
In January 2023, Franz died after a short, serious illness. Yet, his vision lives on: Sonja runs the business with the same dedication and love for nature, supported by an experienced operations manager for foreign trade. Together, they keep Franz’s legacy alive - with every hop field that continues to grow.
2024
In 2024, we continue to pursue our path towards sustainability. A vital element is the close cooperation with the Eckert organic farm in Herpersdorf. By processing our hops regionally, we not only ensure short transport routes, but also a significantly lower carbon footprint. Close cooperation with our partner ensures that our organic hops are processed under optimal conditions - fresh, sustainable and in line with our vision of environmentally friendly agriculture.
