The Watershed Post, out of Delaware County, is reporting that New York's one-time cash crop, hops, is on the rise again... as based on the fact that the Greene County Industrial Development Agency and Cornell Cooperative Extension announced on Tuesday, Nov. 17 that the state will fund a hops-growing experiment in Athens next year, in the hope that the nation's growing love of craft beer will make the crop a bonanza.

Both the Daily Mail and the Daily Freeman have the story, too. The Daily Mail Brian Lawlor, commissioner and CEO of New York State Homes and Community Renewal:

The strategy outlined taps the potential of the hops industry and microbrew business to create jobs, meet the demand for quality local food and beverages, and revitalize rural New York.

Recently, Crossroads Brewery in Athens opened a tap room for off-premises sales.

And in Catskill, a large enterprise named Beer World opened in a former dug store on Route 9W, drawing accolades from suds-lovers for its wide selection of microbrews divided up by states, as well as nations, and even regions within our own New York.