The fresh-frozen buzz is growing in popularity among cannabis consumers as the demand for high-potency extracts soars. What once was an outlandish concept is now considered standard for a portion of a cultivator's crop, some farmers choosing to freeze the crop entirety. As we move forward with the evolution of the industry, our techniques and practices evolve as well, aiming to match our end goal with our customer's desires. While we will always cultivate under our organic and sustainable standard, we have added new traditions to our harvest procedure, offering both fresh-frozen products and air-cured flowers to our clients.
The standard air-drying method has been around since the legacy farmers planted the first cannabis seeds in Mendocino County ground. While all dry/cure methods will vary from farmer to farmer, the general idea involves hanging the harvested cannabis plant, stripping it of the larger leaves, allowing it to dry in a dark room under optimal temperature and humidity settings for up to a few weeks, then bucking it down to finish the cure in a closable container that can be burped regularly. The fresh-frozen method, on the other hand, takes the harvested cannabis plant and removes all the leaves, branches, and stems. A farmer then takes these fresh buds and vacuum seals them in a plastic sleeve, usually weighing one to four pounds each. These sealed bud bags then get placed into an industrial freezer set at -38 degrees Fahrenheit, locking in all the delicious terpenes and cannabinoids until it's ready for use at a later date. In an effort to produce the best fresh-frozen material on the market, we personally take this procedure a step further by placing dry ice in our freezers at the time we first add in the harvested cannabis, keeping those buds in pristine condition. We then additionally apply layers of dry ice across all of the freezers to balance out the drying process.
With fresh frozen, the bag appeal of the flower isn't what a buyer is typically interested in - they're instead intrigued by a diverse terpene and cannabinoid make-up sourced from plants that were grown cleanly and flushed entirely. When the fresh-frozen product is sent through the extraction process, not only will the terpenes and cannabinoids be extracted, but the residual components will, too. Because of this, buyers must seek out farmers that cultivate organically and without the use of chemical pesticides to protect against failed lab tests and maintain safety for the consumer.
Sourcing from a farm that has experience with fresh-frozen harvests will also ensure the harvesting procedure is done correctly and efficiently. Through all of the trials and tribulations, these farmers have learned the risks and challenges associated with this method, and they know how to counteract them. When last year's week-long power outage hit Mendocino County, our farm felt the darkness. With fresh-frozen material in our freezers, we learned the importance of having solar generators as a backup power source.
But why should a buyer be interested in purchasing fresh-frozen buds? Well, for one, to keep up with the demand for extracts. Fresh frozen is a go-to product for creating live resin, an extract category that is popular among all levels of the cannabis consumer market. Live resin cannabis oil can be used in pens, vaporizer cartridges, and dab rigs, remaining flexible to the user's preference. But fresh frozen cannabis is being used beyond just live resin as it's seen in the manufactured-goods market as well. From candies to topicals to tinctures and drinks, these frozen buds can be turned into distillate and used in edible recipes.
Another reason is the difference in shelf life and preservation of our precious terpenes and cannabinoids. Degradation is much less of a worry for products that are immediately frozen after harvest. When traditionally dried and cured, the buds will start to lose their terpene value to oxidization, eventually drying out to a dusty texture, and, in time, becoming overall less desirable to smoke. When frozen, all of those delectable compounds stay preserved, and the freshness lasts longer than it would otherwise. Both cultivators and extractors enjoy this benefit as they don't have to anticipate loss to aging products.
A farmer that has experience with the fresh-frozen harvest method will understand the importance of cultivating cleanly, executing the harvest properly, and preparing for unforeseen challenges. These are the cultivators that promote your success by providing you with exceptional products every time. If you are a buyer interested in expertly prepared fresh-frozen material, Giving Tree Farms has got you covered. We offer traditionally dried and cured buds as well, so whatever your customers are demanding, we can help you fill the inventory. Please submit a Wholesale Account form on our website, and we will reach out to you with more information right away!