Copperstate Farms, ALPS Partner For Cannabis Facility Upgrade, Expansion
Australis Capital Inc., through its majority-owned subsidiary ALPS, has entered into an agreement with Copperstate Farms Management, LLC, Arizona’s largest cannabis wholesaler.
Copperstate Farms currently operates a 40-acre, ~1.7 million-square-foot greenhouse in Snowflake, Arizona, cultivating medical and adult usage cannabis. The contract with ALPS will have an initial term of two years and is expected to consist of two phases. Total contract value over two years is anticipated to be up to $6.0 million.
Phase 1 of the planned expansion has Copperstate Farms contract ALPS to implement a full technology and workflow upgrade of its existing facility with industrial greenhouse management solutions, enhanced cultivation practices, compliance upgrades and computerized maintenance management services through ALPS’ APIS offering. Deploying ALPS’ IP and know-how, the anticipated outcome is significantly increased yield and enhanced product quality, enabling Copperstate to continue to meet and lead the rapidly growing demand in the Arizona market for high-quality products in full compliance with state requirements.
Also part of the Phase 1 project will be the engineering support for the construction of a world class processing and manufacturing facility operated by Copperstate Farms in Tempe, Arizona. This manufacturing facility is in the same building as the Sol Flower dispensary. As part of the contract, ALPS will also support Copperstate Farms to achieve GMP compliance for this facility. Furthermore, the facility will benefit from ALPS’ compliance and maintenance solution: APIS. Through APIS, an Internet of Things style solution, key performance indicators, used to optimize quality and economic output of a facility, as well as other data are monitored to facilitate compliance audits and streamline maintenance. APIS offers highly sophisticated preventative maintenance capabilities, generating a substantial return on investment through increased facility yields, higher product quality and significantly reduced facility downtime.
In Phase 2 of the project, Copperstate intends to utilize ALPS for the design, construction management and (post) commissioning services in relation to the planned expansion of its greenhouse facility by an additional 40 acres, as first announced by Copperstate Farms on March 4, 2021 (see full release here: https://bit.ly/3x3YwJV). The new facility will benefit from the latest in IP and know-how developed by ALPS and its technology partners to deliver high-quality cannabis produced at exceptionally low operating costs.
“Following a thorough due diligence period in which we assessed the various offerings available globally, we are delighted to have signed with industry leader ALPS,” said Fife Symington, co-founder and managing director of Copperstate Farms. “Their technologies will drive our vision of bringing together best practices from large-scale agriculture, consumer packaged goods, and pharmaceutical industries to create one of the top cannabis companies in North America. The current project will include control systems that eliminate crop risk and deliver high quality cannabis for our medical and adult use customers in Arizona.”
In addition to its 40-acre greenhouse facility in Snowflake, Copperstate Farms operates four dispensaries in the state under the Sol Flower banner. Sol Flower is a mixed-use dispensary concept established in 2019 by Copperstate Farms. Dedicated to building an inclusive community by empowering wellness for all, Sol Flower is a resource for both medical cannabis patients and adult use consumers. Sol Flower includes a public-facing classroom, café and lounge, and hosts educational courses with trusted wellness experts. Sol Flower has four locations throughout Arizona including, Sun City, two in Tempe and the only cannabis retail location in Scottsdale.
