Herb Report: California Cannabis Cultivators Anticipate 2024 as Record Harvest Year Amid Expected Market Stabilization
Expect elevated market prices.
Words by FP Team
SOL SPIRIT FARM/ HIPCAMP
As sales for New York’s thriving cannabis market highlights important metrics in this billion-dollar industry for 2024, California’s cannabis producers, ending their 2024 harvest benefitted from favorable weather conditions, marked by a cold, wet spring followed by a hot, dry summer. These conditions contributed to enhanced yields and potentially elevated market prices. Sun-grown cannabis, renowned for its complex terpene profiles and distinctive earthy aromas, is often perceived as superior to its indoor counterparts by connoisseurs. John Casali, a veteran cannabis cultivator from Huckleberry Hill Farms in Humboldt County—part of the renowned Emerald Triangle encompassing Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity counties—remarked on the exceptional quality of this year's harvest, in an interview with MJBIZ. He stated, “For Emerald Triangle farmers, this could be the best harvest season I've ever seen.”
However, challenges persist. Judi Nelson, co-founder of Sol Spirit Farm, noted that the wet spring delayed planting, resulting in the continued harvesting of the “Croptober” crop in Trinity County. While the moisture mitigated wildfire risks, the later harvest raised concerns about mold as the rainy season approached. Nonetheless, Nelson emphasized that the remaining cultivars in the ground were resistant to mold. She remarked, “It was a really nice summer for us,” highlighting the absence of smoke from nearby fires that have plagued the region in past years. From a market perspective, Sol Spirit’s premium flower is packaged in compostable materials, allowing for strategic pricing and narrative control over the brand. Their products, certified regenerative, command a higher price point compared to mass-produced options. “There are tiers to sun-grown, just like any other product,” Nelson explained, differentiating between mass-produced, mid-tier, and top-shelf offerings typical of the Emerald Triangle.
This meticulous approach allows Sol Spirit to price its flowers up to 3.5 times higher than lower-tier producers, as consumers increasingly recognize the quality and effort invested in these craft products. In terms of sales agreements, Sol Spirit Farm operates primarily on a relationship basis rather than with formal contracts, relying on established loyalty from dispensaries that have supported the brand since 2018. Nelson expressed confidence in maintaining these relationships as long as the quality remains consistent. Additionally, she supplies bulk cannabis to Solful, a Bay Area retailer that brands it under its label. Contrastingly, cultivators with high-demand genetics, such as Huckleberry Hill Farms’ acclaimed Whitethorn Rose, typically engage in contracts due to consumer demand. Casali noted that My Green Network and Ay Papi secured Huckleberry Hill’s entire crop before the harvest, emphasizing the importance of legacy genetics for the viability of small farms.
A recent pesticide controversy in California has renewed consumer interest in sun-grown, craft cannabis, and Nelson anticipates a subsequent increase in the demand and pricing for these products. “Consumers are more aware of quality; they feel better and want assurance that what they’re purchasing is clean,” she stated. In response to concerns about pesticide use, Autumn Brands, based in Carpinteria, has eliminated pesticides from its 5½-acre greenhouse operations following extensive research about the harmful effects of even organic pesticides when heated. The company initiated an integrated pest management system utilizing native ladybugs, successfully creating a balanced ecosystem over seven years. CFO Autumn Shelton remarked, “You can wash your fruits and vegetables, but you can’t wash your weed,” underscoring the importance of clean cultivation practices.
The geographic location of Autumn Brands—between the ocean and mountains—further enhances the quality of their cannabis, leveraging natural sunlight while protecting from extreme weather elements. In 2024, the overall reduction of wildfire threats across California’s cannabis-growing regions permitted farmers to concentrate more effectively on their cultivation efforts, providing a much-needed recovery from the devastating impacts of previous years’ fires.
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FP Team covers cannabis, fashion, lifestyle, and design in New York. More about Frasspot
Nov 14, 2024 More in Journal
