Episode 10: Starting a CEA Indoor Vertical Farm with Sweet Cut

Episode 10: Starting a CEA Indoor Vertical Farm with Sweet Cut

Episode 10: Starting a CEA Indoor Vertical Farm with Sweet Cut

Summary:

In this episode, Daniel Algaze, Director of Cultivation at SweetCut, shares the company's unique approach to cannabis cultivation. Daniel explains how Sweet Cut maximizes canopy space and ROI while prioritizing efficiency and ergonomics using a unique combination of LEDs and multi-tiered racking from Pipp. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong team and discusses the challenges and opportunities in the current Michigan cannabis market. Daniel also touches on Sweet Cut's initial signature strain, Sweet Cake, (“a bready sweetness with a hint of skittles”) and the importance of branding and going multi-tiered in a market that is becoming increasingly commoditized. Anyone interested in the cannabis industry will find valuable insights in this informative episode.

  • Based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, SweetCut is rapidly making a name for itself in the cannabis industry.
  • The company has a 16,000 square foot facility that includes four 1,100 square foot flower rooms, one triple tier bedroom, and an R&D room.
  • SweetCut uses a multi-tiered environment for its production, which allows for more physical flowering canopy than actual square footage of space. This results in a higher yield and ROI compared to single-tiered environments.
  • SweetCut's initial signature strain is Sweet Cake It has a bready sweetness with a hint of Skittles on the exhale, and it clones well with an amazing structure.
  • The current cannabis market in Michigan is experiencing oversupply and commoditization, with prices dropping from $3,000 per pound to $1,000 per pound. Strong branding is a key differentiator in this market.
  • Why going multi-tiered is generally more lucrative than single-tiered production, as it almost doubles the grams per square foot of canopy.
  •  

“What's been rewarding is actually finding this team. I really like the people that I've hired, and I haven't always been able to say that in the past. I think that it starts from the top. Mark gave me a lot of trust to fully go out, write my own job ad, target the exact people I was looking for, do all the first rounds of interviews, and then bring them in for the final interview where he would get to talk to them”

“I think we're going to have a lot of really interesting strains come out of our pheno hunt very soon that are going to be available in the next few months. But right now, our initial signature strain is Sweet Cake, and that's a strain that no one else in Michigan has. As far as I know, it's pretty niche, even if you kind of look at the more developed markets like California.”

Daniel Algaze LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-algaze-a8619995/

SweetCut Website: https://sweetcutgrow.com/

Show Links

Pipp Horticulture Website - https://pipphorticulture.com/

Pipp Horticulture YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4nNnNCiwS5k5GX7BaXIrbA

Pipp Horticulture - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pipphorticulture

Pipp Horticulture Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pipphorticulture/

Pipp Horticulture LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/18333737/

Pipp Horticulture Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/pipphorticulture/

Pipp Horticulture Twitter - https://twitter.com/pipphort

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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Episode 9: Passion For the Plant with Redbud Roots

Episode 9: Passion For the Plant with Redbud Roots

Passion For The Plant

Summary:

Joe Zeller and Dante Metaluno provide a deep dive into the cannabis industry. Listen in to hear their success story of Redbud Roots, from the importance of genetics and quality to the strategies they use to rise above the competition. Learn about their specialties in cultivation, extraction, processing, packaging, sales, brokerage, white labeling and small batch production. Explore their thoughts on the effects of federal regulation, marketing of certain strains and the evolution of the Emerald Cup. Gain an inside look into their process of creating SOPs, their data-driven approach, and the unique staffing structure they have implemented to create more accountability and engagement among their team.

  • Discover how Joe and Dante have navigated Redbud Roots from 6 employees to over 150
  • Find out how Joe and Dante implemented a staffing structure to increase engagement and pride in their work
  • Learn about the importance of SOPs in cannabis production and the use of data to make decisions
  • Uncover the team's focus on quality, and their passion for the product
  • Understand the success story of Kim, and the evolution of the Emerald Cup
  • Discover the unique terpene profile of the strains produced by Redbud Roots

“We are cultivation, extraction, processing, packaging. We have a diverse sales team. We do a little bit of brokerage white label and try and find a skew that matches almost every product that somebody can want to purchase at this point. Lean towards the craft side of the market.“(Joe Zeller)

“It's that positive attitude appreciating what we get to do. And that's why I speak on the passion of just the joy of working with the plant, going into a grow room on a gloomy Michigan afternoon. If that doesn't turn you up a little bit, then you should be somewhere else.“(Joe Zeller)

“It’s all about quality and a product that you're proud of, a product that you'll gladly show up to any event with and say, this is mine. This is what we made. Step up the quality.” (Dante Metaluno)

Redbud Roots on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/redbud-roots/

Show Links

Pipp Horticulture Website - https://pipphorticulture.com/

Pipp Horticulture YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4nNnNCiwS5k5GX7BaXIrbA

Pipp Horticulture - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pipphorticulture

Pipp Horticulture Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pipphorticulture/

Pipp Horticulture LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/18333737/

Pipp Horticulture Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/pipphorticulture/

Pipp Horticulture Twitter - https://twitter.com/pipphort

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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Episode 8: USA Made, Michigan Raised

Episode 8: USA Made, Michigan Raised

USA made Michigan Raised

Summary:

Del Rockwell and Michael Williamson explore the ever-changing cannabis industry and discuss the history of Pipp Horticulture, a leader in the racking space for cannabis cultivators. From discovering the benefits of modular racking systems to metal corrosion resistance to understanding the importance of voting with their dollars, in this episode, Del and Michael provide an in-depth look at the industry and the products driving it forward.

- Learn how 45 years of experience in the industry has led Pipp to develop products specifically for the cannabis space.

- Del talks about Pipp’s customer-centric approach and how they have embraced the cannabis industry and its culture. He also dives into how they have developed products for both horticulture and retail.

- Learn about the process of product development, from prototyping to third-party testing. Del also provides insight into his own learning process and talks about enrolling in Bruce Bugby's Horticulture and Cannabis course.

- Hear more about the knock down racking system and other exciting products that Pipp is developing for indoor cultivation.

- A great discussion on the challenges of the cannabis industry, such as taxes and pricing, and how partnerships have helped companies succeed.

- Advice on entering the cannabis industry, emphasizing the importance of having face-to-face conversations and listening to customers.

“We definitely got to drink from the firehose when it came to learning, and I think for the company as a whole, we absolutely tried to learn as much as we could. We wanted to listen to everybody that would try to impart a little bit of information or knowledge on us and try to combat it from that relatively humble perspective.” (Del)

“At the end of the day, are customer centric, and we view ourselves as customer centric almost to a fault. At times, it feels like, yeah, we'll do just about everything. We definitely want to listen to and hear out whatever system it is that they want to use.” (Del)

Pipp Horticulture Website - https://pipphorticulture.com/

Pipp Horticulture YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4nNnNCiwS5k5GX7BaXIrbA

Pipp Horticulture Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pipphorticulture

Pipp Horticulture Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pipphorticulture/

Pipp Horticulture LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/18333737/

Pipp Horticulture Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/pipphorticulture/

Pipp Horticulture Twitter - https://twitter.com/pipphort

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

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Episode 7: Harvested by Hand, Crafted by Culture with CULTA

Episode 7: Harvested by Hand, Crafted by Culture with CULTA

Harvested by hand Crafted by Culture

Summary:

Jay Bouton is the Senior Director of Cultivation at Culta, Maryland’s vertically-integrated craft cannabis brand. Today, Jay joins the show to share his role at Culta, the inspiration behind the name, and their work at Culta. Jay expounds on the Cravo system, the maturation time of crops, and why he considers Workplace of the Year to be the highest honor achievable.

 

*Medical cannabis is for certified/qualifying patients only. You must be at least 18 years old to view content.

00:31 – Michael introduces today’s guest, Jay Bouton, who shares the inspiration behind the name Culta, what it means to say that Maryland is a ‘limited license state,’ and the concept behind vertical integration  

06:57 – Jay paints a picture of the history behind the building infrastructure that Culta currently uses 

10:18 – An indoor, outdoor and greenhouse grower 

14:03 – The Cravo system explained 

20:04 – Jay speaks to the Indoor growing they are doing at Culta 

22:01 – Flowering rooms and average maturation time 

31:04 – Grower of the Year, Product of the Year, & Workplace of the Year 

36:33 – A collaboration with Dartmouth 

37:57 – Genetics and Pheno-hunting, explained 

42:36 – Traits Jay looks for in a cultivar 

52:28 – Selecting an equipment vendor 

55:54 – Partnering with Pip Horticulture 

58:51 – What the future holds for Culta 

1:03:51 – Michael thanks Jay for joining the show and sharing his story 

1:04:45 – Advice Jay would give to those looking to enter the cannabis industry 

“We’re the second largest employer in town now. And, as we keep on growing, I know we’ll become number one. There’s more opportunity that Culta can offer a lot of the people from Cambridge than The Hyatt or these other companies. There’s much more room for growth. You’re being educated everyday at work. We’re growing the people just as much as we’re growing the plants.” (09:51)  

“With outdoor, we’ve gone through two hurricanes. We’ve gone through a drought. We’ve gone through five straight days of rain. So, we have an idea of where everything’s gonna go, but you honestly have to see how that season treats you before you can really decide if this is an extraction year or a flower year.” (16:53)  

“It’s kind of humbling to know that, no matter how good or big we think we are, in the grand scheme we’re a smaller, middle ground company. But that also allows us to really focus on what matters.” (31:48)  

“What we’re most proud about is The Workplace of the Year in the cannabis industry. Being Grower of the Year is awesome. Being Product of the Year is awesome. But being recognized as the employer where employees would much rather be, that makes us prouder than anything.” (33:15) 

“We won’t put anything out there that we wouldn’t smoke ourselves.” (1:03:22)  

CULTA – https://www.culta.io/ 

CULTA Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cultamaryland 

CULTA Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cultaig/?hl=en 

CULTA YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/c/CULTAMaryland/videos 

Jay’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-bouton-v-b592691a2/ 

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Episode 6: Blue Collar Craft Cannabis with Freedom Green Farms

Episode 6: Blue Collar Craft Cannabis with Freedom Green Farms

Episode 6: Blue Collar Craft Cannabis with Freedom Green Farms

Summary:

Drew Nowak is an Alumni of Western Michigan University with a degree in Engineering Management Technology. He is also a former NFL offensive/defensive lineman for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs. He is currently the Founder/CEO of an Adult Use cannabis grow facility in Northern Michigan, Freedom Green Farms LLC. Today, Drew joins the show to discuss process flow, design and the importance of attention to detail. Drew expounds on the origins of the name ‘Freedom Green,’ the value he places on efficiency and sustainability, and how Drew has cultivated an incredibly trusting culture within his organization.

00:00 – Michael introduces today’s guest, CEO and Founder at Freedom Green, Drew Nowak, who shares his background as an NFL player and the work he’s currently doing in the cannabis industry 

02:03 – Process flow, design, and engineering 

03:50 – Biggest challenges in starting Freedom Green 

04:49 – The origin story of the name ‘Freedom Green’ 

06:12 – Growing more with Pipp Horticulture 

09:25 – Drew’s leadership style and what differentiates Freedom Green from other cannabis companies 

10:59 – Attention to detail 

12:30 – Investing in efficient systems and designs 

15:46 – Drew’s expectations for sanitation 

17:17 – The incredible variety that Freedom Green offers 

19:26 – Advice Drew would give to those looking to enter the cannabis industry 

20:29 – What the future holds for Freedom Green 

21:11 – Michael thanks Drew for joining the show and lets listeners know where they can learn more about Freedom Green 

“Process flow is really important for us. We just didn’t want to be restricted for any reason, whether it was pallets of dirt, soil, whatever, individuals, movement, transplanting, anything like that. So it was really valuable for us to make sure that this room was wide.” (02:12)


“We really wanted to be proud Americans with the name. But also, the ‘Green’ aspect is important. Our motto is, ‘Sustainably made, simply clean.’ We try to make everything as efficient and wasteless as possible.” (05:27)


“What I feel is very valuable is how we empower our employees. We give them responsibility. We give them the ability to work. We’re not breathing down their backs. And, by doing that, we’ve created comfortability in the workplace and confidence in their abilities and what they do. We trust them tremendously to do the right thing.” (09:54)

“I want people to be able to eat food off the floor in here. That’s our expectation on sanitation. I joked earlier that we clean ninety percent of the time and work on plants ten percent. There’s no excuse for our environment.” (16:01)


“We want to grow for the people. It doesn’t matter what I like. It doesn’t matter what you like. It matters what the people want. So our goal is, tell us what you want and we’ll grow it.” (17:59)


“Right now, we still need to figure out and be the best that we are in the space. It’s hyper-competitive in Michigan but we’re gonna stay in our lane. I’d rather pick one thing and be the best at one thing than do ten things and be average.” (20:38)

Freedom Green – https://freedomgreenfarms.com/ 

Freedom Green Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/freedom_green_farms/

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Episode 5: Curaleaf’s Johnstown Cultivation Facility

Episode 5: Curaleaf’s Johnstown Cultivation Facility

Episode 5: Curaleaf’s Johnstown Cultivation Facility

Summary:

Ronnie Richardson is a Cultivation Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the alternative medicine industry. Ronnie works at Curaleaf, a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to improve lives by providing clarity around cannabis and confidence around consumption. Today, Ronnie joins the show to discuss best cultivation practices, the Ohio cannabis market, and what makes cannabis ‘craft.’ Ronnie shares his journey to the cannabis industry, advice he would give to those looking to break into the industry, and how he curated his leadership style.

00:00 – Michael introduces today’s guests, Cultivation Manager at Curaleaf, Ronnie Richardson, who shares his background in cannabis 06:35 – Ronnie speaks to the Curaleaf facility, staff, and global presence

09:44 – What Curaleaf is doing differently to maintain a high level of quality

13:10 – The ‘Ohio Tenth’

15:58 – Curaleaf’s most popular products and how they decide what to grow

22:03 – Where Ronnie curated his mature leadership style

32:35 – Passionate people helping people through cannabis

41:01 – Ohio: A non-combustible state

47:05 – Restrictive products in the cannabis industry

50:47 – The importance of HVAC systems and what makes cannabis ‘craft’

59:07 – Ronnie’s educational and career journey

1:07:29 – The early days of Curaleaf and the different brands under the Curaleaf umbrella

1:13:27 – What the future holds for Curaleaf

1:15:15 – Advice Ronnie would give to those looking to enter the cannabis industry

1:17:28 – Michael thanks Ronnie for joining the show

“Everyone in the back comes from different walks of life across the board. But the one common denominator is that everyone is passionate about cannabis. We have a team back there that’s very like-minded in that regard. Everyone is passionate about the same thing. They love cannabis and they see the medical benefits that it provides for its patients. They take a lot of pride in what they do back there, and it shows in their work.” (06:07)


“It’ll definitely be more of a hybrid approach. There’s always going to be different things growing in different states. It would be really challenging to standardize the same amount of strains across the board.” (21:23)


“Everything starts with your people. There’s a lot of value in the people in your organization. Without great people, you don’t have an organization.” (24:09)


“When I started learning about the endocannabinoid system, it really intrigued me. And I wanted to learn more about it. And I wanted to be part of changing that stigma around it.” (38:17)


“A lot of people ask, ‘What makes cannabis craft? What dictates it? Is it because you’re hand watering your crop? Is it because it’s organic? What makes that craft? For me, it’s just cultivating with intent. It’s about putting that quality above the quantity aspect.” (51:50)


“Whether it be a medical-driven state or rec-state, the same amount of care and passion goes into cultivating the same thing.” (1:09:20)


“Curaleaf is on a mission to be the world’s leading cannabis company through education, accessibility, and customer satisfaction through high-quality products backed by science.” (1:13:38)

Curaleaf Website - https://curaleaf.com/

Curaleaf Instagram - 

https://www.instagram.com/curaleaf.usa/

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Episode 4: A Recipe For Success From Ohio’s First Medical Cannabis Cultivator – Buckeye Relief

Episode 4: A Recipe For Success From Ohio’s First Medical Cannabis Cultivator – Buckeye Relief

Episode 4: A Recipe For Success From Ohio’s First Medical Cannabis Cultivator – Buckeye Relief

Summary:

Buckeye Relief is an Ohio owned and operated cannabis cultivator and processor. Today, members of the Buckeye Relief team, including VP of Cultivation, Matthew Kispert, and Director of Cultivation, Tyler Bracken, join the show to discuss the evolution of the cannabis industry in Ohio, what the role of a Section Grower entails, and what it means to foster a great culture. They talk about validation, single vs. multi-tier facilities, and the immense satisfaction they get from working with cannabis.

00:32 – Michael introduces today’s guests, members of the leadership team at Buckeye Relief, who share their various backgrounds and eclectic experiences that led them to the cannabis industry 

07:18 – The role of a Section Grower 

09:48 – Advice for those looking to enter the cannabis industry with limited cannabis experience 

15:30 – Pros and cons of single-tier and multi-tier facilities

23:40 – Building and fostering a great culture 

32:06 – The evolution of the Ohio cannabis market and the house of brands under Buckeye Relief 

36:10 – What validation means in the sanitation process 

44:03 – Top-selling products at Buckeye Relief 

48:18 – The Sneak Peek Program

56:10 – What the future holds for Buckeye Relief 

59:01 – Final thoughts on the cannabis industry 

1:01:44 – Michael thanks the entire team for joining the show to share their unique insights

“A section grower is somebody who is basically the plants’ parents for nine weeks from veg to harvest. We take care of them from our little one foot babies to pain to up to five foot tall monstrosities that are a pain to work on, but we love them anyway.” (07:37)


“A lot of us came into this industry not knowing anything. And so a big part of that is admitting, ‘Yes, I don’t know that, but I’m willing to learn. And if you teach me and provide me the tools necessary, I will prove to you I’m worth the investment.’ It’s finding those people that are willing to constantly step forward.” (14:06)

“One of the biggest things that I have pushed since I’ve been in a leadership position is to be yourself and to come in here and not have the stresses from outside life. Just to come in, enjoy working with weed, and enjoy being who you are. And then for them to know that they can come to me at any time of day and they can call me at any time of night. Just being there for them when they need is a really important aspect to me.” (28:40)

“Needless to say, if demand increases in Ohio, we will rise to the occasion.” (58:25)

“I would say, if you want to be a part of something that is extremely rewarding, try to get into the cannabis industry. If you’re not afraid of hard work, get into the cannabis industry. Because with that hard work comes great reward.” (59:25)

Buckeye Relief – https://buckeyerelief.com/

Buckeye Relief Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/BuckeyeRelief

Matthew Kispert’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-kispert-1599aa95/

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Episode 3: Bringing Fresh Greens into Detroit with Vertical Farming

Episode 3: Bringing Fresh Greens into Detroit with Vertical Farming

Episode 3: Bringing Fresh Greens into Detroit with Vertical Farming

Summary:

Meg Burritt is the Leader of Business Development and Kai Misner is the Leader of Hydroponic Technology at Planted Detroit, a beyond-organic farm that grows nutrient-packed greens and micros in a sustainable & controlled environment. Today, Meg and Kai join the show to discuss the vertical farming industry, food supply chain, and Planted Detroit’s mission to make farming more efficient so communities can source fresh produce locally, on a year-round basis. They detail the journey from seed to sale, share how they are fostering a compelling culture, and elaborate on the importance of biosecurity.

00:33 – Michael introduces today’s guests, Meg Burritt and Kai Misner who join the show to share the vision of Planted Detroit and the opportunities they see in the vertical farming industry

08:17 – Meg and Kai speculate on the future of Planted Detroit

12:54 – The journey from seed to sale

19:07 – Building and fostering a great team and a compelling culture

25:33 – Kaizen & Toyota

29:56 – The typical food supply chain system, explained

34:28 – Working with white tablecloth restaurants and ‘community fridges’

37:48 – Meg and Kai elaborate on their biosecurity infrastructure and practices and how they sourcing and validate their seeds

49:40 – Meg and Kai break down what goes into their salads

53:17 – Michael thanks Meg and Kai for joining the show and lets listeners know where can learn more about Planted Detroit

“We love this city and we want to be able to continue to contribute this sort of new technology as well as great jobs and good food for local markets. And then the goal is just to grow beyond that. Our founder Tom’s vision is to feed the world and absolutely views what we’re doing as
additive to the food system.” (08:55) (Meg)

“I think there was a lot to learn there as far as what are the requirements in the controlled
environment. So, I think there were some benefits that we got as far as economy and capital
investing initially, but also have some challenges around controlling the climate in the hottest parts
of the year.” (15:33) (Kai)

“It’s really fascinating to see the quality and the flavor of food in California. And then, as you progressively go East, the decline is significant, especially with leafy greens.”
(32:05) (Kai)

“We just are forever that Kaizen approach of how can we be more and more safe, both for our
employees and our customers, but also for our company.”
(40:21) (Meg)

“Like most growers, we have had to source seeds from a lot of different people and kind of suss
out which seed providers are really giving us the best quality seed, the cleanest seed. So, to
kind of bridge the gap between seed and security, we do require good manufacturing and good agricultural practices from our seed providers.”
(41:44) (Kai)

“And from a sustainability perspective, it’s not just about that head of lettuce and how much
pesticide it has on it, but how much is being absorbed into the soil and integrated into the
ecosystem. And that impact may be a net negative.”
(48:28) (Meg)

Planted Detroit – https://planteddetroit.com/

Planted Detroit Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/planted.detroit

Planted Detroit Twitter – https://twitter.com/planteddetroit

Planted Detroit Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/planted.detroit/

Planted Detroit LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/planted-detroit/

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Episode 2: Craft Cannabis and Audio Terps with the Founders of Indico Colorado

Episode 2: Craft Cannabis and Audio Terps with the Founders of Indico Colorado

Cultivation Elevated-Episode2

Summary:

Owners of Indico, Josh Foley and Owen Miller are known as some of the best craft cannabis growers in Colorado. Their old-school approach to cultivation allows them to give every plant the close attention it needs, and has resulted in them producing top-shelf cannabis that features potent aromas and flavors. Today, they join the show to discuss their grow process, the critical role that music plays in their operation, and the inspiration behind some of the strains they have cultivated, including their award-winning Mandarin Sunset flower.

00:01 – Michael welcomes to the show Josh Foley & Owen Miller who share the incredible origin story of their company, Indico
05:53 – How Josh and Owen first met and connected
09:26 – Bumps in the road along the entrepreneurial journey
15:51 – Buying trends among consumers in the marketplace
18:44 – Marijuana and music
23:28 – Advice Josh and Owen would give to traditional growers
31:42 – The inspiration behind some of the strains Josh and Owen have cultivated
36:03 – Washing and solventless hash production explained
37:20 – Josh and Owen speak to their partnership with Dialed In Gummies
44:06 – Where listeners can find products by Indico and how the cannabis market has shifted
51:41 – Josh and Owen speculate on what the future holds for Indico
56:16 – Michael thanks Josh and Owen for joining the show 

“When people see that first plant that’s just perfectly formed, it’s awe-inspiring and it gets them hooked like that.” (11:41)
“What’s better than getting super blazed on your favorite strain and listening to your favorite music? It goes hand in hand.” (18:44)
“The one thing that is blatantly apparent is that the plants are living things, and the mood and the environment around the plants affects the plant growth itself. And so, by playing music, we’re trying to create this positive energy and vibe in the garden that then translates to the plants being happier.” (20:27)
“It’s probably the number one thing that we’ve noticed that growers overlook when we go into their facilities is that a lot of times their rooms are just way too dry to start out and the plants are not flourishing.” (28:12)
“Well, it basically comes down to one of two different types of cultivators. You’re either cultivating for high-end flower, or you’re cultivating for extraction.” (49:19)

Indico Colorado – https://indicocolorado.com/ (https://indicocolorado.com/)
Dialed In Gummies – https://www.dialedingummies.com/ (https://www.dialedingummies.com/)
Indico Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/indicocoloradoinc/ (https://www.instagram.com/indicocoloradoinc/)
Josh’s Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jfoley0711/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/jfoley0711/) Show LinksPipp Horticulture Website - https://pipphorticulture.com/ Pipp Horticulture YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4nNnNCiwS5k5GX7BaXIrbA Pipp Horticulture - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pipphorticulture Pipp Horticulture Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pipphorticulture/ Pipp Horticulture LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/18333737/ Pipp Horticulture Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/pipphorticulture/
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy https://www.instagram.com/mayflowerfarms/ 

Sirona Cultivated – https://sironacultivated.com/ 

The Perfect Elevation – https://www.theperfectelevation.com/ 

The Perfect Elevation Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/summit_theperfectelevation/ 

Dozuki – https://www.dozuki.com/

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Episode 1: Converting Single-Tier Legacy Cannabis Cultivation to a State-of-the-Art Multi-Tier Operation with Daniel Craveiro

Episode 1: Converting Single-Tier Legacy Cannabis Cultivation to a State-of-the-Art Multi-Tier Operation with Daniel Craveiro

Episode 1: Converting Single-Tier Legacy Cannabis Cultivation to a State-of-the-Art Multi-Tier Operation with Daniel Craveiro

Summary:

Daniel Craveiro is the Director of Research & Development at Camaraderie Group, an organization that includes such brands as Mayflower Farms and Sirona Cultivated. Today, Michael and Daniel engage in a deep discussion on the cannabis industry, fertigation systems, and the difference between traditional cultivation methods and multi-tiered setups.

About Daniel:

Daniel Craveiro entered the regulated Cannabis industry in 2009 while pursuing a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Since 2009, Daniel has had ample experience in Cultivation and Manufacturing facility design and build, equipment and methodology selection and implementation and facility commissioning and training. He has contributed to the design and build of multiple ground-up and retrofit facilities across multiple states including Colorado, Michigan and California. Daniel has contributed to the development of the DAGDA Fertigation System, which is a state-of-the-art suite of automated plant irrigation solutions for cultivators that uses real-time plant data to make irrigation decisions. This system allows cultivators to make data-driven decisions that contribute to consistent, reproducible crop outcomes. Daniel has also conducted research in the field of Cannabis plant sciences and manufacturing techniques and has collaborated on research with prominent companies and institutions in the field of Cannabis sciences and product development. Daniel has been a part of award-winning teams, including being a recipient of awards from High Times magazine, the THC Classic Cup and The 710 Showdown.

00:01 – Daniel joins the show to share his origin story, cannabis cultivation, and transdermal patches

06:36 – Revolutionizing the world of cannabis sales

08:29 – Multi-State Operators (MSO), explained

13:00 – Fertigation systems

18:59 – Daniel describes some of the infrastructure he has in place at Mayflower Farms

22:38 – The difference between solventless and solvent-based extracts

31:02 – Transitioning from traditional cultivation methods to multi-tiered setups

34:50 – Daniel speaks to some of the innovations they are working on at Mayflower Farms

42:05 – Initiatives to be environmentally friendly and to continuously improve

45:07 – Tips for building a great culture

46:39 – Advice Daniel would give to those considering shifting from single to multi-tier

48:52 – Michael thanks Daniel for joining the show

“We don’t see this being an industry that has a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, which is the perception that a lot of people have. Our perception of the industry is that it’s just like any other, but we have an opportunity to be in it a bit ahead and a bit early.” (09:24) 

“We looked at the existing fertigation systems that were in the market and we saw some of the deficits they had in terms of being applicable to cannabis specifically. So, we decided to jump full on into that endeavor. What we’ve done since is basically develop a set of systems for fertilizer mixing, fertilizer delivery to the plant - so irrigation - and then also substrate monitoring.” (14:56) 

“It’s very unique how you find these groups or families of strains that share characteristics…I think there’s a very big world of complements that can occur in cannabis that people aren’t exploring as much. And we’re curious about it so we’re playing around with it.” (30:35) 

“One of the biggest challenges in cannabis right now is accounting. It’s a very complex business to do this and there’s a lot of different components to it. A lot of growers actually don’t know how much it costs them to grow a pound of product.” (40:55) 

“We try to adopt the concept of continuous improvement in our company. You could say it’s a cliche thing, but when you get it into the heads of every team member out there and you walk the floor, you notice that people are looking around for ways to make their lives better.” (43:39) 

DAGDA Fertigation - https://www.dagdafertigation.com

Mayflower Farms – https://mayflowerfarms.com/ 

Mayflower Farms Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mayflowerfarms/ 

Sirona Cultivated – https://sironacultivated.com/ 

The Perfect Elevation – https://www.theperfectelevation.com/ 

The Perfect Elevation Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/summit_theperfectelevation/ 

Dozuki – https://www.dozuki.com/

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