A Day of Judging the Emerald Cup
Written By A.C. Moon
We are greeted with smiles, intense coughs, and a thick layer of ganja smoke that proliferates every inch of available air in the room. Assembled teams of cannabis judges line long wooden tables like knights of the round table and with pens in hand, the testing and evaluations commence.
The Emerald Cup ‘Small Farms Initiative…’
Written by Marcel Menard
The Emerald Cup’s Harvest Ball is a yearly beacon for the cannabis community. It’s an event where all can gather and passionately celebrate the work of their fellow farmer. This year, the Emerald Cup Harvest Ball has partnered once again with California craft farms to give them an opportunity to participate as vendors in their world famous marketplace and consumption lounges. The Small Farms Initiative program provides craft farms the chance to be seen and celebrated by the diehard seasoned attendees and newly cannacurious crowds looking for the latest farm fresh flower, genetics, or wellness products.
Fat Nugs & Impeccable Vibes: The 19th Annual Emerald Cup Awards Recap
Written By Isabella DeChard
Just over 19 years ago, nestled up on a hill in the redwood trees, the (then underground) cannabis community of Northern California came together to create a friendly competition around cannabis cultivation.
Hosted at Area 101, a small campground and gathering spot in Laytonville, Mendocino, a group of friends – consisting of passionate cannabis farmers, (now) legacy growers, and stoners – would party together through the night to honor the start of another cultivation season.
This year, it hosted around 3,000 of California’s biggest brands, farmers, advocates, creatives, and “cannaisseurs” in the industry – all joined together for this reputable competition and celebration.
For me, as a new-timer to this renowned cannabis competition, and a rookie industry advocate out of the masses that attended, it was an event and experience that I will never forget and always appreciate.
My First Harvest Ball
Written by Isabella DeChard
The Emerald Cup hosts the Harvest Ball in Santa Rosa, California each year. Farmers and cannabis brands from all over the Golden State join to celebrate the bountiful crops and cultivars meticulously cultivated this season.
However, among the handful of other cannabis events I’ve gotten to recently experience, this two-day event felt significant among the others. Throughout the entire Harvest Ball weekend, the collective empathy and perseverance I always recognized about this cannabis community was stronger than ever.
Even though this was my first time at the Harvest Ball and an Emerald Cup occasion in general, I had never felt more welcome or comfortable at a major cannabis event.