California grower Coastal Sun has made a name of itself for combining both cannabis and blueberry cultivation. All of that, has been carried out following regenerative agriculture principles, and an OCAL organic certification. Five years have passed since we spoke with them, and now, the company has expanded their vision, despite the challenging market they operate in. "We've stuck to our guns," says Bryon from Coastal Sun. "We've held onto our philosophy and ethos, and that's allowed us to grow strategically, not just physically, but through partnerships, too."
© Coastal Sun
Partner farms and regional genetics
One of the most significant developments is Coastal Sun's network of about a dozen partner farms across California. These partnerships allow them to offer consistent shelf space and a wider product variety while staying true to their regenerative roots. All partners must be OCAL-certified organic and follow the same growing methods Coastal Sun has become known for. "This lets us grow the right genetics in the right climate," Bryon explains. "Some cultivars do better in the dry inland areas, others need the coastal conditions we have here. It's a way to trial, adapt, and keep our quality high across the board."
Coastal Sun operates a nursery to provide clones and genetics to smaller growers who might lack the infrastructure to bring those plants to market. Transparency is also part of the model: packaging clearly shows who grew what and where.
© Coastal Sun
Blueberries, goats, and crop rotation
While cannabis is still the flagship crop, it's not the only thing growing at Coastal Sun. Blueberries now play a significant role in smoothing out workflow and finances across the year. "It allows us to keep people employed year-round and balance out our cash flow," Bryon says. "If cannabis is doing well, we can invest in blueberries. If not, the berries are a safety net."
© Coastal Sun
The two crops even share infrastructure and fertility inputs, which helps manage seasonal peaks and dips. There are also livestock involved, goats and sheep are used to graze and improve soil health on current and future fields. "We're trying to build up our land for the long term," Bryon adds.
Co-location and collaboration
Another arm of Coastal Sun's expansion is co-locating with like-minded operations. One such partnership is with Haze Valley Nursery, a cannabis nursery that now shares space at Coastal Sun's facility. "They ramp up in spring when we're not at peak, so it makes sense,"
Bryon says. "They do breeding and genetic vetting, which isn't our core focus, and we help trial and bring those to market. It's a win-win." That spirit of collaboration, rather than competition, defines the company's approach. "We're an open book. If we learn something, we share it. That's how we grow too."
© Coastal Sun
Keeping it organic, and affordable
Coastal Sun has always been laser focused on making organic cannabis accessible. "We're selling organically grown cannabis at the same price, or even less, than most conventionally grown flower," Bryon says. "We don't think organic should be exclusive. We're willing to fight tooth and nail to make it the standard."
Despite having opportunities to white-label or expand in less principled directions, the company has kept everything in-house to maintain quality and brand integrity. And that seems to be paying off. "We've built our reputation by being here from the beginning and staying consistent," Bryon says. "We've watched a lot of big companies come and go, but we're still here." With close to ten years under its belt, Coastal Sun may be considered a veteran in cannabis years, but in their view, the work is just getting started. "We are approaching our 10th anniversary, but for us, we are just in the infancy of this. We're playing the infinite game."
For more information:
Coastal Sun Farm
[email protected]
coastalsunfarm.com
