It is harvest time in the Yakima Valley. While growers all around the valley are busy harvesting fruits and vegetables, there is another group of growers that are harvesting the other crop that the valley is known for, cannabis.
While traditional crops like apples and cherries make up the bulk of harvest, cannabis is quickly becoming the next up-and-coming crop in the Yakima Valley. Many cannabis growers have found a home in the Moxee area. This week, KIT News was granted exclusive access to one of the dozens of farms in that area where the harvest is underway. The harvest of 3,000 to 5,000 pounds will not go to the market as dry cannabis, however; this crop is being prepared for the processing market to create oils for both the retail and medical cannabis market.
Like every farm in the area, this farm is under heavy security, a requirement of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Each plant is also labeled and numbered under a state system for tight quality control.
Cannabis is a big crop in Washington state, bringing in millions of dollars each year to help the state economy. It was first legalized through a ballot measure in 2021. Since then sales have grown year after year. State officials say that in some places in the state, cannabis sales even outpace tobacco sales.
Read more at newstalkkit.com
