Two California cannabis farms have pioneered a new milestone in cannabis, and are now certified as the first “comparable-to-organic” cannabis farms in the state, as well as in the United States, by CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers). OCal is a new certification program through the California Dept. of Food and Ag (CDFA). The certification was awarded to well-respected legacy farmer Sensiboldt Organics out of Humboldt County, and The Highland Canopy at Sonoma Hills Farm, a new premium craft cannabis farm and culinary garden located in Sonoma County.
The first cannabis certification program of its kind in the U.S., OCal’s standards, certification process, and regulations mirror almost exactly those of the USDA’s National Organics Program (NOP), ensuring consumers that cannabis products bearing the OCal seal have met the consistent, uniform standards comparable to NOP.
“We are elated to certify Sensiboldt Organics and Sonoma Hills Farm as the first to meet California’s OCal standards,” said CCOF CEO, Kelly Damewood. “OCal cannabis certification celebrates the integrity and transparency of cannabis growers who use long-established organic practices such as cultivating healthy soils, fostering biodiversity, and eliminating the use of cancer-causing pesticides. Like all agricultural crops grown in California, cannabis can, and should, be grown with production practices that protect the land and our communities. We applaud both farms for leading by example.”
With its operations led by Aaron Keefer, Sonoma Hills Farm (SHF) cultivates premium, pesticide-free craft cannabis sustainably grown under the California sun. Keefer and the team’s mission at Sonoma Hills Farm is to bridge cannabis with Sonoma’s rich agricultural legacy by introducing craft cannabis to the farm-to-table lifestyle. In addition to cultivating premium cannabis, the farm boasts a rich culinary garden with the intention of showcasing how cannabis is synergistic with traditional farming and can be integrated into a farm-to-table lifestyle. The farm’s pasture, vegetable, and flower garden have also been recently certified organic.
Appealing to the sophisticated, experienced flower consumer, Sonoma Hills Farm’s variety of genetics includes both classic and unique strains, each selectively harvested at peak trichome ripeness, and curated for those seeking high-THC flower as well as dynamic cannabinoid and flavorful terpene profiles.
“It feels surreal after a year and a half journey to establish something no one has done before, and we are honored to be certified one of the first ‘comparable-to-organic’ cannabis farms in the country,” said Aaron Keefer, VP of cultivation and production for Sonoma Hills Farm. “We work very hard to grow cannabis at the highest standards, to get the best expression of the plant, and to create a premium product without compromise or short cuts. Consumers deserve to know how their cannabis is grown and where it’s sourced, just like their tomatoes, lettuce, and beef, and naturally that is what this program is about.”
Sensiboldt Organics is the cannabis division within a long-standing family’s vegetable and seed breeding farm, Eel River Produce in Shively, which is the longest operational CCOF certified organic farm in Humboldt County. A founding member of the Humboldt Dry Farmed Cannabis Alliance, the farm’s cannabis is grown implementing the same biodynamic, dry farming methods used to nurture their soil for more than thirty years. With a focus on biodiversity, their optimal cannabis traits are expressed when “rich soil composition, Mother Nature’s offerings, and mindful practices align.”
A pioneer in the organic farming movement, Eel River Produce and Sensiboldt Organics Founder Bill Reynolds recently passed, after devoting decades to organic agriculture, the inception of the farm-to-table movement, and organic seed breeding. Reynolds is a world-renowned seed breeder and beloved member of the organic farming community, known as a caring mentor with endless charisma and charm. His expertise was shared with countless students, organic farmers, seed breeders, and CCOF staff and inspectors. In a retirement tribute post last July 2020, CCOF expressed appreciation to Bill for his many decades of commitment.
“This is a monumental achievement for us, the cannabis industry, and consumers, and it is only thanks to the CCOF team who were committed to making this milestone come to fruition,” said Rosie Reynolds, owner and CEO of Sensiboldt Organics. “This is one of my dad’s dreams come true: every year during CCOF inspection he would try to persuade the inspector to include cannabis in the list of our certified crops and was always baffled that it wasn’t an option since it’s just another crop using the same farming practices. We’re so thankful to officially refer to our craft cannabis as comparable-to-organic, and look forward to being able to remove ‘comparable’ in the near future, as well as bringing our cannabis to the masses, well beyond the limits of our state.”
OCal’s process involves an application, review, inspection, compliance review with the OCal comparable-to-organic standards, and finally, certification for those who meet all the standards. The OCal regulations were designed to adhere to NOP organic regulation and guidance, with minor modifications to clarify cannabis-specific terms, support state administration of the new program, and provide consistency across state cannabis regulations. While OCal is a California-state specific program, the USDA would potentially offer organic certification to cannabis if the crop became federally legal.
Added Keefer: “National adoption is only a matter of time, and we hope to be a good example for other farms in California and across the United States.”
In addition to OCal certification, both farms are also Sun+Earth certified, a non-profit certification for regenerative organic cannabis and hemp grown under the sun by small-scale family farmers.
About Sonoma Hills Farm
Sonoma Hills Farm is a cultural and educational intersection of small farm cannabis and traditional agriculture, cultivating world-class cannabis for people who are passionate about the plant, from discerning consumers to those in the high-end culinary and hospitality industries. One of the first certified farms under the California guidelines for “comparable to organic” certified cannabis (OCAL), the farm offers sun-grown premium cannabis flower to wholesale partners and California’s finest retail dispensaries via Nabis, as well as selling direct-to-consumer in limited batches of pre-packaged flower. Sonoma Hills Farm is owned and operated by Big Rock Partners, a seasoned team with years of agriculture, cannabis, and hospitality experience. For more information, contact info@sonomahillsfarm.com. Lic. #CDFA: CCL20-000520. Follow Sonoma Hills Farm on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.