“Even though we are one of the state’s largest outdoor cannabis growers, we are definitely noticing the increasing competition. While many retailers just care about the best price, it is important for us to find partnerships with retailers who appreciate our organic practices,” says Ben Smith, Co-Founder of Coastal Cultivars. The company currently uses greenhouses for their propagation and 6 acres for their field cultivation. “We are passionate about being as environmentally friendly as we can be, which differentiates our product among the competition.”
Conscious cultivation
Ben explains that the company is based on the foundation that growing outdoors produces a better product that is also better for the environment. “Whether it’s in greenhouses or in the field, using natural sunlight produces a better, terpene-rich product. Moreover, our goal is to produce the cleanest and greenest cannabis that we can. Therefore, we use on-site artesian well water, a proprietary mix of soils with natural amendments, and traditional organic farming practices.”
Despite the benefits, growing outdoors in Massachusetts does sometimes come with its weather challenges. “Our cultivation is based in the agriculture-rich community of Wareham, MA, along Buzzards Bay. We picked this location as it is an agricultural farming community. We wanted to choose a location that appreciates agriculture and has people with agricultural skills. On top of that, the bay’s unique microclimate provides a longer growing season and the perfect setting for the cultivation of high-quality, sun-grown cannabis. Still, the rain and humidity in the area can be challenging. Luckily, this season’s climate was excellent. It was very dry, but since we have our own wells, that was not an issue for us.”
A competitive market
According to Ben, the Massachusetts cannabis market has definitely become competitive, with over 200 cultivators now. “There are probably only ten as big as we are, but the competition has still been evident for us. The prices have dropped significantly, which started on 4/20 but has still not yet really leveled off. Luckily, because we grow outdoors, we can be competitive with our prices. Moreover, our organic practices set our products apart. While some retailers are just looking for the best prices, there are definitely retailers out there that appreciate our organic approach. It is key for us to find those partnerships and work with them.”
Winter production
Now that the company has finished its second season, they are hoping to expand their greenhouse production during the winter time. “From the beginning, we wanted the majority of our production to be in greenhouses. The cost of this, however, made us decide to start off with mostly outdoor production and just a small section of the greenhouse. Now that we’ve had a successful crop this year, we are hoping to start building more greenhouses next year.”
For more information:
Coastal Cultivars
www.coastalcultivars.com