The journey of spray-free cannabis plants
Sustainable and holistic farming has made an impact in the cannabis world. Autumn Brands in Carpinteria, California, has been at the forefront of creating 100% spray-free, clean cannabis.
Three ingredients are at the heart of making Autumn Brands’ cannabis: farming techniques, natural sunlight and pesticide-free cultivation. This sixth-generation Dutch farming family relies on a crucial component to fulfill its commitment to the consumer, the planet and its sustainability practice: the native California ladybug.
The Brand family teamed up with Autumn Shelton to create Autumn Brands Farm. The Shelton and Brand families are dedicated to growing cannabis products that consumers can count on for quality and safety in a year-round greenhouse.
Carpinteria’s unique growing environment makes this microclimate ideal for its greenhouse. Carpinteria is located between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean on a coastal plain. The balanced ecosystem promotes crop growth, with fertile soil, adequate precipitation and open spaces perfect for year-round growing and optimal plant health.
THE AUTUMN BRANDS HERO
In 2019, Autumn Brands determined that although California did not ban pesticides, fungicides or organic oils, its customers deserved a clean cannabis option. The industry was new and not much was known about the repercussions of inhaling even organic pesticides. The team decided to commit to clean cannabis for the consumer.
Now, information is emerging about the dangers of pesticides in cannabis. Former University of Southern California chemistry professor, Jeffery Raber, co-authored a peer-reviewed study in The Journal of Toxicology about the dangers of smoking marijuana with pesticides on it, and stated: “It’s really like injecting that pesticide right into your bloodstream. It could cause damage to your kidneys, to your liver or other organs.”
Identifying how to grow 100% spray-free cannabis led to an innovative solution with the California aphid-eating ladybug. This solution is credited in large part to Johnny Brand, who holds a degree in agricultural science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
The first step was to test different cannabis strains in combination with varying insect ratios to combat plant-destroying aphids. Strain genetics were carefully selected to ensure strength, viability and consistency in growth. The goal was not the total elimination of pests but the establishment of a natural balance that allows the aphids to survive, not at a level that would drastically limit production.
Now, the native California ladybugs voluntarily come to Autumn Brands Farm to lay eggs, which then turn into larvae and eat the aphids. The ladybugs that appear do not have the typical spots, showing that they are native to California, confirmed by entomologists from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Initially, there was a high rate of crop loss while learning the balance between beneficial insects and eliminating the use of pesticides. Because of the lack of pesticides, occasional bugs may appear during the growth phase. However, Autumn Brands diligently monitors the crop, nurturing and hand-trimming the plant, and ensuring only quality bug-free selections reach the consumer.
Autumn Brands uses its no-spray, pesticide-free cultivation over roughly 247,000 square feet of sungrown cannabis, along with 23,000 square feet of processing space. This creates a modern, sustainable, clean cannabis operation.
