New Brunswick's microbreweries are lining up to buy the first crop from the province's largest organic hops farm.

Ashley Durdle, co-owner of Happy Hopyard, outside Anagance, is bringing in the farm's first harvest of the flowering plant, which is used as a flavouring and preservative in beer.

The 16-hectare farm is likely the largest organic hops farm in the country and one of the only large-scale hops growers in Atlantic Canada.

"There's lots of interest out there, especially from the microbreweries here in Atlantic Canada," Durdle said.

"They typically don't get the best of the best as far as hops go. Everybody gets their hops from the West Coast, Europe, Australia, New Zealand. So, the microbreweries here in Atlantic Canada are really excited to have a local supplier."

Although the product is still being harvested, Durdle is already getting phone calls from microbreweries in the region, including Picaroons, Propeller and Garrison.

Longtime goal

Sean Dunbar, the brewmaster of Fredericton's Picaroons, said he's been hoping for locally produced hops.

"We're going to end up taking all of their volume," Dunbar said. "It's been a long-time goal of mine as a brewer to make a beer from products all in New Brunswick.

"I just think it's a good thing."

Dunbar said that for the moment, all of his ingredients come from outside of the province.

He said he'd also like to see locally produced grain malted and shipped back to New Brunswick, but until local hops are a good first step.

Keeping up with demand

With the demand from the microbreweries, Durdle said it's not yet certain this first harvest of pesticide-free hops will be large enough.

Insects were kept at bay this season, but the weeds were "completely out of control."

"We haven't gotten a full crop this year," Durdle said. "Hopefully next year they'll be up to par. But it's been good."