What’s the difference between successful cannabis harvests and mediocre results? The drying and curing process. The postharvest phase is a delicate—and challenging—time for cannabis cultivators. Traditional HVAC systems are known to cause erratic conditions, which is potentially disastrous for products that need stable, controlled environments. When growers can maintain the proper water activity levels during drying, curing and storage, they will have consistent product in every season, climate and geography. Attendees will gain an understanding of critical factors in postharvest processing that affect saleable yield and product quality.
Attendees will also gain a better understanding of how overdrying cannabis flower cuts into profitability. It lowers yield, increases labor, reduces profit and compromises product integrity. I will discuss why there is no reason to dry below a water activity level of 0.60 because that is the level that is inhibitory to the growth of most harmful microorganisms. Additionally, if cannabis is rescheduled on the federal level from I to III classification, the FDA will become involved, and the agency will regulate based on water activity to support stable shelf life. I will also explain how the new homegrow regulations in the New York market present opportunities for retailers.
