“You have to be committed at 100%, no matter what because stuff is going to happen, and you have to face it. It’s just like life, we learn the hard way.” -Fernando, Master Cultivator at Genesis Grow Corp.
Treat pre-rolls are locally sourced, allowing us to have more oversight on the quality of the crops chosen for our joints. This also gives us an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to grow good weed!
While our company specializes in top-shelf cannabis oil, our true love is flower in its raw, dank form. We know we don’t have the time or experience to grow the premium crops we prefer to enjoy, which is why we source from the best growers in CA. Not everyone who grows weed grows good weed, so we made it a priority to work with the most experienced local growers.
We were lucky enough to speak with one of the master cultivators behind our first batch of Treat strains, Blue Wonder, Dutch Treat, and Sour Diesel Lemon Kush. From the team of growers in Hollister, CA responsible for growing flower for boutique brands such as MadCow Genetics and Cookies by Berner––Meet Fernando from Genesis Grow Corp!
Grower: Fernando, Genesis Grow Corp
Number of years cultivating: 14
Tell us a little about your cannabis background:
“I Started growing when I was 17, but got serious about it at age 20. Then when I was 25 I moved from Venezuela to LA and started working at Legacy Strains and that’s when I started growing at an industrial size.”
Best growing practices?
“Keep everything clean––your tools, your workspace, your garden, everything. Study and read a lot, the information is out there, you just need to know where to find it. Knowing the theory is crucial but being hands-on is where the real learning happens. Don’t jeopardize your entire crop. If you’re going to try a new technique, test it on a small portion, not the whole operation. Having a great team that knows what’s going on and follows the correct procedures is key.”
How do you keep your flower top-shelf?
“We pay a lot of attention to detail from the beginning, starting in the clone stage. We pick the best strains, choose the best looking plants of those strains to bring into our flower room, and we know what the plant wants and needs.”
How long did it take for you to learn all the secrets and techniques to growing good weed?
“I’m still learning. Everyday I learn something new. There’s no place you can go to learn all this stuff. I have read a bunch of books but there’s always something new to learn, it’s a never-ending process. Monitoring the plants almost 24/7 is what really gave me a critical eye to identify what the plants needs.”
What should customers pay attention to or look for when shopping for flower & pre-rolls?
“People are looking for the highest thc level, but there are a lot of other aspects to consider when buying flower. Potency is good but you should also consider the terpenes profile, how exotic the strain is, how dense, taste, aromas, etc. It really depends on what the customer wants. I’m not an expert in strains, I just want to reach the full potential of every strain I grow.”
Outdoor vs Indoor vs Greenhouse – what do you recommend customers shop for?
“Depends on what you like. All of these have their pros and cons, however, I think both indoor and greenhouse have a more maneuverable way of dealing with the plant. They could be more precise but could take a lot more work too. However, as technology advances, so does the quality of the flower when you can more easily and closely monitor each plant, control all environmental factors, and essentially give them what they need to flourish.”
Do you need native talent to be a top master grower? Can anyone be a grower?
“Now we have more legalization and more access to education, so there is a lot of information out there to prevent mistakes. But you need to develop a critical t eye to read the plant, and you need the time to gain the experience. When you monitor the plant 7 days a week,you develop crucial skills which will guide your path But you have to be committed at 100%, no matter what because stuff is going to happen, and you have to face it. It’s just like life, we learn the hard way.
