05/18/2026
๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ | ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐ โ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑโ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐น๐ผ
For more than 10 years, Chris has helped shape the UF IFAS GCREC Hops Program from its earliest experimental plantings into one of Floridaโs leading hops research operations.
In the beginning, harvests produced only a handful of cones per plant, vines were short enough to harvest from a golf cart, and researchers were still learning how to adapt hops โ a crop traditionally grown in cooler climates โ to Florida conditions.
Today, the program produces towering 18-foot vines, operates two growing seasons per year, and collaborates with breweries and industry partners across the state.
Behind much of that progress has been DelCastilloโs work in the field.
From helping build the original hopyard and trellis systems to managing harvesting, drying, pelletizing, equipment, and field operations, DelCastillo has spent years refining the behind-the-scenes work required to successfully grow hops in Florida.
โThereโs almost an unlimited amount of things to do behind the scenes,โ he added. โNobody will ever see what you did, but some will eat โ or in this case, drink โ what you grew.โ
His role also includes training both students and staff, while supporting their research in the field, where much of the programโs success depends on passing down hands-on skills across constantly changing teams.
โMy job is helping students learn. When new people come in and you see them become passionate about hops โ like PhD student Alvaro J. Bautista โ Iโm excited to support that. I can match passion with passion,โ DelCastillo said.
Join us ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ for our ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐
๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ to tour the hopyard, experience harvesting demonstrations, meet the team behind the research, and see firsthand how UF/IFAS is shaping the future of hops production in Florida.
Donโt miss the chance to step inside the hopyard and see us in action โ registration is free ๐ https://shorturl.at/wck2o
