doing business as
employer : John I . Haas , Inc . founded : 1914 location : Yakima website : www . johnihaas . com
John I . Haas , Inc .
This leading hops supplier boasts 103-year-old roots in Yakima and is known for its passion for flavorful beer , customer success and , as it turns out , saving honey bees .
Bobbi Cussins
the company : John I . Haas has operated its 2,000-acre farm in the Yakima Valley since 1914 and employs 250 to 500 workers in the region , depending on the season . Along with its German affiliate which began business in 1794 , John I . Haas is the world ’ s largest hops supplier . It is a completely integrated hops company , meaning it breeds , grows , processes and creates custom hops and hops products with different flavors and aromas to meet the needs of its customers — from large global corporations to small craft breweries .
lab and research brewery : Many of the company ’ s hop varieties , particularly the ones bred and grown at its farms , are patent protected . John I . Haas ’ labs are also integral to the partnerships the company has fostered with brewers worldwide . In fact , many of its proprietary products are in response to a customer request . The lab is connected to an onsite research brewery . Together , the breeding , lab and brewery facilities form the foundation to provide proper counseling for brewers to create a beer to exact sensory specifications .
hops beyond brewing : One branch of the company is called BetaTec . It focuses on how to use hops beyond brewing beer and was conceived from hops history : Back when monks were making beer , they discovered hops ’ preservative quality . In modern uses , hops are an antibacterial , useful when making ethanol and sugar .
the buzz : Honey bees are particularly susceptible to a form of mite that kills them , but some hop compounds act as a natural antigen to the mite . So , the company created a product called HopGuard ®, which is put on a strip and placed in the hive . When the bees rub against it , they get a healthy dose of naturally derived mite antigen that protects the honey bees from certain death . In short : The company not only makes the world smile by creating great beers , but it also helps feed the world by keeping honey bees alive .
values-driven : John I . Haas is focused on sustainability . Its main offices / labs are LEED Gold certified and use 35 percent less energy and 30 percent less water than similar facilities . From the ground level to management , the company is guided by five core values : Innovation , passion , integrity , customer service and teamwork .
need to know : “ We are a very values-driven company . It really starts with our CEO Alex Barth ( a seventh generation shareholder ), who uses our five core values as a compass . When the CEO believes in the company ’ s values that much , the rest of the organization follows suit .”
— Bob Gerst , vice president , human resources
54 association of washington business