Introducing the 2021 Emerald Cup Harvest Ball – A New Event In Support of Small Cannabis Farmers

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The Emerald Cup is a cannabis event that takes place in Northern California. If you ask the organizers, it’s a celebration of cannabis. Those entered in the contest will say that it’s the final arena. Ask anyone else and they’ll tell you that it’s a really good time. 

For the first time in their eighteen-year history, a new event will precede the Emerald Cup and put the spotlight on small cannabis farms. Announcing The Emerald Cup Harvest Ball. If you’re twenty-one or older, consider yourself invited.

What is the Emerald Cup?

Usually a two-day event, the Emerald Cup hosts a cannabis competition, marketplace, tradeshow, and social gathering. On top of that, there’s live music, expert panels, good food and lots of chances to sample products. The competition is world-renowned and very intense, with judges picking winners in over forty categories. Contest entry will open in mid-December and the date for the award ceremony has not been announced yet. In the meantime, there’s a pre-party happening and it’s got a great cause behind it.

Flashback to The 2018 Emerald Cup with Craig Ex from Expert Joints

Emerald Cup Harvest Ball

Taking place at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds and Flamingo Resort in Santa Rosa, the Emerald Cup Harvest Ball is all about connecting the cannabis community. Between the entertainment, social set up and direct-to-consumer marketplace, this event is focused on creating good vibes and cannabis kinship. It offers all the fun and festivities that take place at the competition but the spotlight will be on small cannabis farmers. To support local growers, the event organizers created the Small Farms Initiative Program. Thanks to this new program, over thirty cannabis farms will receive free exhibit space, special promotion, and support. 

“These small farmers form the true roots of our industry, so it means so much to me and all of us at the Emerald Cup to be able to help them succeed as our industry moves forward into a new age of cannabis production, sales, and consumption,” says Emerald Cup founder and CEO Tim Blake.

Emerald Cup Small Farms Initiative Program – Supporting Small Farms

The first roster of program participants has been announced (scroll to the bottom for the full list of selected participants). For those selected, this includes a sponsored entry for a premium spot, a reduced concession arrangement, and heightened brand promotion. In addition, each farm is being given the opportunity to submit three product SKU’s for special sales promotion. The goal is to connect the consumer directly to the farmer and help foster win-win relationships. 

Program Eligibility

After each farm was accepted into the program, a lottery was held to choose thirty farms for the Harvest Ball. According to event organizers, qualified farmers were expected to: 

  • Hold a current and valid cannabis cultivation license for the state of California
  • Have a maximum farm size of 10,000 square feet 
  • Practice sustainable farming and/or participate in third-party certification programs such as OCal, Sun + Earth Certification, Clean Green Certification, Regennabis, Envirocann, etc

“These smaller farms have been struggling for years due to complicated regulations, onerous taxes, limited access to retail, and a volatile market,” says Small Farms Council chair Michael Katz. “We are thrilled at the range of participants in this program, and the opportunity to support farms already in the licensed consumer marketplace, as well as those just engaging for the first time.”

If you want to go, the event is happening this December 11-12, 2021, and is open to anyone twenty-one years or older with a valid photo ID. For more information about The Emerald Cup Events or to get tickets, click here.

Want to check out the green gold being grown? Sorted by county, here is a list of the farms selected for the Emerald Cup Small Farms Initiative Program. 

Humbolt Valley 

Lake County

Mendocino County

Nevada County

Santa Cruz County

Sonoma County

Trinity County

Footnote(s)