A range of growers competed to see who grew the best cannabis flower at the Tri-State Cultivators Harvest Cup festival in Lambertville yesterday.
Licensed independent cultivators, underground legacy operators, and home growers entered 21 cannabis strains to compete and see who grew the best cannabis flower.
Paul Davis of Green Drago Hydroponics of South Jersey announced the winners.
3rd place was won by the licensed independent grower Full Tilt Labs with their Gorilla Butter strain.
2nd place was won by the strain Angry Squid by Prickly Pete.
The Garden State Collective won first place with their Obama Kush strain.
“This has really been about building one community in New Jersey and the Tri-State. And really giving us the kind of space to show off the talent and the support through small businesses, small entrepreneurs, and everybody else who has put energy into this space,” he explained.
“We look forward to building this out,” Davis added.
Baked By the River dispensary worked with Green Dragon Hydroponics and the 4 Seas Club to hold the show close to the dispensary in Hunterdon County in Central Jersey.
Tri-State Harvest Cup Judging Procedure
The Tri-State Harvest Cup didn’t want the judging influenced by knowing the brand of the growers or the strain.
So, the judges didn’t even know what cannabis strain it was they were consuming. However, the Tri-State Harvest Cup did provide them with the Certificate Of Analysis (COA) of each strain to ensure quality products. The COA included the types of cannabinoids and terpenes which influence the effect and smell of cannabis flower. All samples were tested for quality.
Judges were given small samples of flower to try by Tri-State Cultivators to judge to see which was the best.
There were two sets of jars for seeing and smelling cannabis flower.
Many metrics were noted as a guide for the judging of cannabis flower.
About 30 people served as judges.
According to the Cup, “All entries must have been grown in the Tri-State region including NJ, PA, NY, CT & DE.”
“In order to be eligible for the people’s choice judging and be eligible for cash prizes, entrants must set up a table and present their flower to the people’s choice judges on November 3rd.”
$2500 in cash prizes was supposed to be awarded to the winners.
Festive Atmosphere
The Harvest Cup had a chill festival vibe, with many smoking weed and doing dabs while Reggae music played along with other staples.
Dirty Dank provided free dabs along with the legacy to legal company NJ Green Scene, which hosts seshes.
The licensed independent growers Hamilton Farms and Full Tilt Labs tabled and gave out samples.
Scarlet Reserve Dispensary of Englishtown (which Heady NJ is advertising full disclosure) was there promoting their store. CEO Will Rivera and his team were also judges.
Among those tabling and offering free samples were the licensed independent growers Hamilton Farms North Lake Supply and Full Tilt Labs. The local edibles and cannabis concentrates manufacturer Lily Extracts was among the sponsors of the Harvest Cup.
No sales were allowed at the event.
NJ Cannabis Cups
The 420 Expo held the first fully legal Cannabis Cup this past September. However, they told everyone which licensed companies grew what beforehand. So, it was not anonymous. Thus, some did not think it was fair.
In addition, the advocacy group Sativa Cross has held legacy grower Cannabis Cups on the NJ State House lawn on 7/10 OIL Day.
