By David Sandelman
The cannabis industry’s focus on cultivation is a natural given, considering the history of the plant and the consumer’s familiarity with it. But this obsession with cultivation and the harvest–however well intended– can often come with a price if it leads to neglecting one of the most critical stages of product development: Post-harvest processing.
Because in agriculture, no matter what you are growing, post-harvest processing is where it’s at – and where growers should be focusing more of their attention. Cannabis drying, curing and storage practices are the keys to reducing plant degradation, maintaining quality and extending product shelf life. In short, these comprise the final critical steps before the plant meets the consumer. Ensuring these processes optimize your cultivation success should never be an afterthought.
Rather than be relegated to second billing, post-harvest processing should be the star of the show.
Take the example of wine. Like cannabis, wine is a centuries-old agricultural product that has relied upon time-tested cultivation practices carried on for generations. Unlike the cannabis industry, the wine industry has historically valued post-harvest processing, embracing new practices and technologies that help concentrate flavors, alter chemical composition and stabilize wine to prevent spoilage and oxidation. Though the degree of focus on post-harvest processing can vary by the type and quality of the wine being produced, most modern winemakers pay a great deal of attention to post-harvest processing.
On the other hand, cannabis cultivators rarely provide the same attention and consistency to post-harvest processing that they apply to their cultivation efforts. Post-harvest processing is sometimes considered the “ugly stepchild” of the cannabis industry because it is a complicated, costly and high-risk operation. But once a harvest is complete, maintaining the quality of the final product is a difficult, delicate and unforgiving task. Move too quickly and you risk harsh-tasting buds and the loss of terpenes. Go too slowly and you encourage the growth of mold and mildew, which can ruin an entire harvest.
Ultimately, ignoring the complexities of post-harvest processing means that even a perfectly grown crop can be ruined in the final stages. For commercial cultivators, lack of attention to post-harvesting processes directly risks profitability and consumer trust.
Industry leaders pushing for the adoption of more consistent post-harvest processes face multiple hurdles to overcome. First, the legacy cannabis market relied on traditional drying, curing and storage methods, as well as anecdotal knowledge, to manage post-harvest processing. Most of these practices have been passed along from one grower to another – and many cultivators and home hobbyists continue to swear by these “time-tested” approaches.
Second, although the final quality, potency and market value of cannabis products are heavily dependent on careful handling of the plant post-harvest, some growers lack the proper controlled environments and standardized procedures to attain consistent results without constant care and attention. As a result, many growers maintain the viewpoint that the post-harvest is more art than science, and traditional drying and curing methods are better suited for the nuances of human expertise and natural processes.
Even as new technologies and processes have been introduced that markedly improve post-harvest results, the industry is still catching up with data-driven, repeatable processes common in other agriculture sectors like winemaking. This unfortunately does not change the facts: For cultivators aiming for a high-quality finished product and maximum profitability, increased attention to post-harvest techniques is critical.
It is still true that well-managed traditional approaches to drying and curing can also yield excellent results. However, the time and patience required to carefully control temperature and humidity, airflow and other factors can make traditional methods a hit-and-miss approach – and much riskier for commercial operators. Here’s why improved post-harvesting processing practices can make such a difference:
- Reduces spoilage while increasing the odds of maintaining the quality of the end product
- Controls microbial activity and enables long-term storage while maintaining potency, taste and psychoactive properties
- Improves flavor, aroma and smoothness, which is achieved by allowing the plant’s chemical compounds to mature
- Reduces moisture, breaks down harsh starches and chlorophyll, and preserves delicate terpenes and cannabinoids, ultimately creating a more potent, stable and enjoyable result with an enhanced shelf life
- Reduces the chance of making common mistakes, which can lead to microbiological contamination from mold and bacteria, resulting in product loss, costly recalls and a damaged brand reputation
- Significantly lowers the risk of over-drying, which leads to reduced profitability due to loss of saleable weight
Whether you are a home grower interested in producing better bud – or a commercial operator seeking to increase consistency and profits – it is time to flip the script on post-harvest processing. Instead of remaining the steady supporting player, make post-harvest processing the headliner alongside your cultivation effort:
- Recognize the importance of post-harvest processing and prioritize resources accordingly
- Review current practices/processes and identify challenges and their potential solutions
- Reconsider rigid adherence to outdated processes
- Invest in people and technology that can make a real difference in your finished product
In winemaking, the teams managing the post-harvest process are often reflective of the final products. High-quality wineries dedicate significant labor resources and advanced technology to the post-processing phase. To keep pace with a growing and maturing industry, cannabis operators would do well to mimic this approach.
David Sandelman is Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder of VT Dry & Cure Technologies, the makers of Cannatrol, which innovates technology that improves post-harvest processing while boosting efficiency and product quality for cannabis operators worldwide.
Photo by Ramiro Mordcovich for Universal Growing
This article is from an external, unpaid contributor. It does not represent High Times’ reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.
