Cryo Cure and Holland Green Science Announce Manufacturing and Global Distribution Partnership

Cryo Cure and Holland Green Science Announce Manufacturing and Global Distribution Partnership

After the successful debut of its highly-anticipated CC-Micro freeze-drying machine for home and craft growers, Cryo Cure is proud to share that it’s partnering with extraction equipment manufacturer Holland Green Science to produce more units and distribute them on an international scale. The cannabis extraction equipment provider, based in the Netherlands with a North American headquarters in Chicago, will manufacture Cryo Cure’s CC-Micro machine, designed for home and craft growers to bring Cryo Cure technology to smaller harvests. 

Why did Holland Green Science and Cryo Cure partner?

Cryo Cure is the company behind Live Resin Flower, which balances the flavorful and potent experience for which live resin extracts are known without affecting smokable flower’s integrity. Cryo Cure machines skip the hang drying phase and produce ready-to-smoke product in as little as 11 hours. Unlike standard freeze dryers, Cryo Cure machines dial in the right ratio of time, temperature, and pressure to preserve flower at the height of freshness. This stabilizes terpene profiles and cannabinoid levels while ensuring the flower is easy for consumers to break apart and use.

Michael Urosev, co-founder and CEO of Holland Green Science, described Cryo Cure as “a real innovator and risk taker” in the cannabis industry.

“I want to partner with companies that disrupt markets and challenge the established norms that we have in the cannabis industry, and Cryo Cure is… blazing a whole new territory in our market,” said Urosev. “The leaders of Cryo Cure think outside the box and have created an entirely new product category as a result. Simply put, Cryo Cure is synonymous with quality, freeze-dried flower.”

Tracee McAfee, CEO of Cryo Cure, said Holland Green Science’s global reach, deep cannabis knowledge, and commitment to product quality make them an ideal partner for the company.

“Holland Green Science is not only known for meeting international standards for safety and compliance, which is essential in our industry, but they are a truly global company with an established presence in cannabis markets around the world,” said McAfee. “Their international reach and careful diligence to quality make them a perfect partner to expand our reach to home growers and craft growers in the U.S., Europe, South America, and more territories.”

The move to the CC-Micro

Since its founding in 2018, Cryo Cure has manufactured large freeze drying units best suited for commercial grows. With the launch of the CC-Micro in May 2023, the company expanded its reach to home, hobbyist, and craft growers, successfully distilling Cryo Cure’s patented technology into a footprint less than three feet wide. The initial run of CC-Micro machines was met with great enthusiasm, selling out within weeks of launch. 

“It’s been my goal to bring Cryo Cure to home growers and craft growers since our earliest days, and it took years of research and development to adapt our process to a smaller size at an affordable price,” McAfee said. “I am delighted to see that there’s so much demand, that we can pursue global reach with a world-class manufacturing and distribution partner.”

“Even with Cryo Cure’s success on a larger scale, Tracee and Greg [Baughman, Cryo Cure president and Head of Cultivation] never forgot about the home grower and the craft grower,” Urosev added. “Both us at Holland Green Science and Cryo Cure want large companies and the regular guy down the block alike to process cannabis safely and effectively. With the CC-Micro, Cryo Cure is one step closer to its goal of bringing their technology to cannabis enthusiasts everywhere.”

About the CC-Micro cannabis freeze drying at home unit

The CC-Micro holds approximately 1 to 2 wet pounds of cannabis, depending on the cultivar. Each machine is pre-programmed with Cryo Cure’s patented “recipe” for drying and curing flower, as well as recipes to make hash. The dry cycle time lasts around 11 to 16 hours. Machines come with 5-tray configurations, with 9-tray configurations available. Outside of cannabis, the CC-Micro can be used to freeze-dry fruits, vegetables, and other products. 

How to pre-order the CC Micro

Cryo Cure is accepting pre-orders for the CC-Micro. The machines are available to ship throughout North America, South America, Europe, and select countries in Africa and Asia. Visit the CC Micro page to learn more about the machine and fill out the pre-order form.

What Do People Have To Say About Cryo Cure’s Live Cured Flower?

What Do People Have To Say About Cryo Cure’s Live Cured Flower?

This content was updated to reflect a change in the product’s name to Live Cured Flower.

New to Live Cured Flower? There’s no better time than the present to see why industry pioneers and everyday smokers alike have only the highest praise for this revolutionary cannabis.

Don’t just take our word for it: See what cannabis lovers from all walks of life had to say when they got their hands on Live Resin Flower for the first time. We brought Live Cured Flower to Las Vegas during MJBizCon 2022 and showed our industry what this flower is all about. The reviews are in, and the consensus is clear — Live Cured Flower is in a class of its own!

Here’s what more than a dozen reviewers had to say about Live Cured Flower:

The flavors are unmatched to traditionally dried and cured flower

One of the first things the people we met noticed about our Live Cured Flower is its wonderful aroma. That’s because this flower is preserved at the height of freshness, stabilizing terpene levels that conventionally dried and cured flower can’t match. Even the rarest of terpenes can be found in Live Cured Flower!

“The terps are terpin,” said farmer and artist Roger Sterling Coleman as he unscrewed the Live Cured Flower jar for the first time. “It’s smooth, it’s a little citrusy, it’s super rich, but airy as well. Super sweet, ‘sweet cream’ kind of vibe.”

The favoritism of flavor didn’t stop there. Other high praise for Live Cured Flower’s scent included:

“I always think the best weed should taste good, and it shouldn’t taste like the basement. This is not the basement,” said legendary Detroit rapper and producer Trick Trick.

“Wow, this tastes delicious. You know what’s so impressive is that you get that full-body taste right off the bat. Not only that, I can taste it and smell it. It makes my mouth water,” said Kym Byrnes, co-founder of TribeTokes.

“It tastes like actual fruit, that’s like candy right there,” said Cam Jennings.

“It’s crisp and fresh and tastes like I’m back in high school,” noted Emily Wells.

The smoke is smoother than other flower

Consistently smooth hits come up time and again as one of the most noteworthy aspects of Live Cured Flower. It makes inhaling a pleasant and comfortable experience for even the most sensitive consumers.

Self-proclaimed “notorious cougher,” Stu Zakim, noted the smoothness of Cryo Cured cannabis.

“(The fact) that I can talk after taking a hit of this stuff makes it really unique to me,” Zakim said.

Others, like Caleb Gilmore, shouted out the smoothness of Cryo Cured cannabis.

“It’s like a really smooth bong rip but better,” Gilmore said. “It’s crazy smooth, actually, Cryo Cure makes delicious smooth-hitting weed.”

Live Cured Flower boasts unmatched potency

The potency of terpenes and cannabinoids in cannabis plays a massive role in the resulting consumption experience. With traditional drying and curing, it’s inevitable that the cannabinoid and terpene content will degrade — the clock starts ticking the moment the flower is harvested. Not so with Live Cured Flower! Thanks to the process patented by Cryo Cure, drying and curing time is cut to as little as 11 hours, all while stabilizing the plant’s resin content. As a result, Live Cured Flower has little to no cannabinoid and terpene degradation.

Reviewers like Adam Scott Green found Cryo Cure’s potency especially notable. 

“Every single time, I want to smoke something like this,” Green said. “It’s absolutely smooth, the terps come through; just like you smell it [is how] it tastes. This is fire, this is what you want.”

The critical acclaim didn’t stop there. Happy Munkey Co-Founder Vladimir Bautista gave Live Cured Flower top billing.

“This is what we like to call ZaZa in New York,” Bautista said. “Cryo Cure, I’m rocking with you.” 

The visuals and textures are unlike anything our reviewers have seen

There’s no shrinkage with Live Cured Flower! The colas are as large as they are the day they’re harvested. And that’s the kind of visual that’s destined to leave an unforgettable first impression.

Dabstars founder Jonah Tacoma was most impressed with the beautiful shape and taste of the Cryo Cure buds. 

“What I really like about Cryo Cure Cannabis is that it preserves all the aesthetic that you see when you first harvest, and you’re all excited,” he stated. “But instead of shriveling down and losing 60% of that body mass, it retains that shape and that taste.” 

Another common theme was Live Cured Flower’s texture and colors, which reviewers described as “bright and fabulous.”

“This is beautiful, this is like, absolutely Grade A cannabis, it does not get more premium or better than this,” Green said.

“It’s really frosty, it doesn’t look like weed that would be as frosty as it was, it looks really light and fluffy but it’s actually kind of dense at the same time,” Jennings added.

Cannabis and psychedelics journalist Rachelle Gordon credited Live Cured Flower for its unique appearance and texture, as well as its ability to retain its vibrant hues even after being smoked.

“This is the sugariest nug I’ve seen in a minute,” Gordon said. “The trichomes are just so bright, it’s so fluffy. This seems fresh, like it could have been cured yesterday, and the color is still so bright even though it’s halfway charred,” she added as she sampled Live Cured Flower.

You can skip the grinder — yes, we mean it!

Another common theme among our reviewers is how easy Live Cured Flower is to handle. More than once, we heard people describe the flower as “grinder free cannabis” due to how easy it is to break apart with your hands. And Cryo Cure’s founders agree: This flower is best taken apart by hand, before the teeth of a grinder can tear through it.

“It’s really easy to break up, probably with your fingers, no grinder necessary,” said Kathryn Awada. 

“You don’t even need a grinder with this flower!” Zakim added.

How is Live Cured Flower produced?

Live Cured Flower is possible thanks to Cryo Cure, the company behind a patented technology that dries and cures flower in as little as 11 hours, depending on the cultivar. By perfecting a precise time, temperature, and pressure ratio, our founders developed a system that solved the pitfalls of traditional freeze drying, a long-touted but never perfected (until now!) modality for drying and curing cannabis. 

In the words of Rachelle Gordon, “Cryo Cure is seriously an innovative technology. If it’s out here making bud like this, you know it’s a big, big deal.”

Curious about how Cryo Cure works? Read our guide to how Cryo Cure machines work, and peruse our FAQ to learn even more about the “why” behind Live Cured Flower.

The reviews are in – Live Cured Flower is the next big thing in cannabis!

Cryo Cure is proud to provide consistent, high-quality premium cannabis flower to consumers in markets across the U.S. To find out when Live Cured Flower is coming to a dispensary near you, follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn for the latest updates!

What Does GMP in Cannabis Mean For Cultivators?

What Does GMP in Cannabis Mean For Cultivators?

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are a core part of the food and beverage industry and the pharmaceutical industry, serving to ensure these manufacturers create safe, reliable products through a consistent set of documented processes. Currently, GMP standards do not apply to the cannabis industry, but they are widely expected to in the near future — especially as the legalization movement advances worldwide.

For cannabis cultivators and manufacturers, conforming to GMP standards now will not only result in safe processes and consistent products, but will also give a competitive advantage when GMP standards do apply to the cannabis industry. This guide introduces the concept of GMP standards and describes what they might look like when it comes to cannabis cultivation and manufacturing.

What are Good Manufacturing Practices?

GMP standards are meant to ensure that all products are made with a process that consistently meets certain quality standards. Adhering to GMP means establishing documented, repeatable processes that will always provide the same result — safe, high quality products. GMP compliance is vital to the overall success of any company that desires to sell consumer products, including cosmetics, food, and eventually, cannabis.

The 5 Ps of Cannabis GMP

GMP standards are a set of guidelines that allow manufacturers to arrive at their own unique GMP compliant process, rather than a set of strict rules that must be followed. These guidelines include five main components, commonly referred to as the “Five Ps” of cannabis GMP. Cannabis cultivators and manufacturers can work toward GMP compliance by focusing on each of these factors.

1. People

Employing a highly-qualified team of experienced individuals is essential to establishing GMP compliance. Beyond the initial hiring process, establishing and documenting proper training is an investment that can make or break a company.

Employers should always develop safety protocols and provide their team with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). Generally, training for cannabis cultivation employees should cover everything from caring for the plants to safety precautions to environmental concerns following harvest.

The day to day work of personnel should also be tracked and recorded in a systematic way. That’s to create an auditable record of every step taken in the life cycle of a plant from seed to sale. Manufacturers must also define roles and responsibilities in a clear, documented hierarchy to ensure that their facility runs like a well-oiled machine.

2. Premises

The premises step involves all facility design factors and safety considerations within a cultivation site. All cultivation and manufacturing facilities should be maintained to high-quality standards to guarantee the safety of health or employees. This includes proper ventilation systems and, in the case of extraction facilities, C1D1 and C1D2 zones to prevent fires and explosions and mitigate damage should these accidents occur.

When it comes to cannabis, proper premises selection and facility design has a lot to do with storage conditions of inputs and finished products. While machine maintenance is essential, post-production storage of harvested flower and products is just as necessary. Cultivators should consider all factors of their facility, from the HVAC system to filtration to fire safety.

While building GMP compliant premises can be quite costly, proper facility design is essential to verifying product quality and, ultimately, the longevity of the business. A GMP compliant process is also likely to be more efficient, saving money in the long run despite the upfront investment.

3. Process

All cannabis facilities must implement documented standard operating procedures (SOPs) describing every facet of their operation. These SOPs should be followed strictly to ensure that cultivation and laboratory facilities will pass regular inspections. As GMP compliance is an ongoing process, SOPs should also be frequently revisited and updated accordingly with current best practices.

Part of the process stage relates to the equipment used in cultivation or manufacturing. Generally, there are three phases when it comes to machinery in the GMP validation process: the installation qualification (IQ), the operational qualification (OQ), and the processing qualification (PQ). Each of these bars must be passed to obtain GMP certification.

    • Installation qualification (IQ): This verifies that machinery is qualified and was installed and configured to meet GMP standards. Cannabis manufacturers should always work under medical GMP standards, especially if they plan on exporting products. IQ means the material of the machinery is made to quality standards, and anything touching the product is 316 stainless steel or better.
    • Operational qualification (OQ): This verifies that a machine has been installed and is operating consistently and dependently within the manufacturer’s standards. Operational qualification ensures that a facility is ready for function and that the devices will run exactly as intended every time.
    • Processing qualification (PQ): Cannabis companies must prove that they follow the same SOPs every time to achieve the same intended results. These instructions should be as clear to a third-party inspector as it is to facility personnel. They must also be easy to replicate and test procedures to guarantee their effectiveness.

4. Product

Product quality is one of the most essential parts of GMP qualification. Third-party testing ensures that products are being manufactured via a repeatable process that results in the same final product every time. Product quality testing is generally conducted using a third party to track and manage all materials used to manufacture cannabis products.

Relying mainly on inventory tracking, each product must be managed down to the raw material inputs used to create them. Where those products are sourced, how they are shipped, and the conditions in which they are stored before the process begins all matter when it comes to GMP standards. Testing also confirms product quality and label accuracy. Cannabis companies that do not produce products in line with GMP standards could face consumer health problems, recalls, and damage to brand reputation.

5. Procedures

Procedures cover how administrative teams track and enforce their cultivation and manufacturing processes throughout the facility. Generally, GMP standards cover everything from safety and emergency protocols to organizational hierarchy. Cannabis cultivators seeking GMP certification should keep detailed records of their procedures to present such information to a third-party auditor.
Cannabis GMP and what it means for cultivators
GMP certification is generally regarded as “when, not if” when it comes to the U.S. cannabis industry. While many cannabis cultivators choose to ignore GMP regulations, there’s no denying the importance of documented, repeatable processes and consistent results.

In Germany, for example, GMP certification remains the most basic requirement for any company producing medical cannabis and exporting it to the European Union. According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), “Any manufacturer of medicines intended for the EU market, no matter where in the world it is located, must comply with GMP.”

As cannabis legalization expands across the U.S., GMP standards will likely become the norm for this industry. Regardless of current regulations, any business that wishes to ensure safety, quality, and demonstrate to consumers and partners their commitment to each should make GMP compliance a top priority.

GMP certification in the EU

As the cannabis industry grows, it’s more important than ever that companies with international reach are prepared to enter markets overseas. This means that it’s essential for cannabis companies who want to enter the European market to obtain GMP certification, even if it’s not required in the U.S.

Because cannabis is considered a medical product in the European Union, GMP is a prerequisite for most cannabis companies operating in Europe. According to the EMA, all cannabis products must be manufactured and tested under formal conditions, including a listing in the Eudra Database European Medicines Agency. Generally, suppliers and partners in Europe are not likely to work with non-GMP certified companies.

GMP certified vs. GMP ready

“GMP ready” generally means that a company has not received GMP certification from a third-party organization, but believes it would qualify if it did apply. The phrase “GMP certified” confirms that a cultivator has gone through all or any of the steps of the GMP certification process.

Cultivating cannabis with GMP compliance in mind

With the cannabis industry continuing to grow, there has never been a better time to prioritize GMP compliance. Designing your cultivation or manufacturing facility with the right equipment and methodology is the only way to ensure that your company will be prepared for GMP compliance and other regulatory changes.

Choosing top quality machinery that meets GMP standards, including Cryo Cure’s line of patented freeze drying machines, is a major consideration when setting up a GMP compliant process. To learn more about how Cryo Cure can support your cannabis cultivation or manufacturing business, contact us today.

The Cold Truth Episode 5: Cultivating Success with Ryan Douglas

The Cold Truth Episode 5: Cultivating Success with Ryan Douglas

For the January 2023 episode drop of The Cold Truth, Cyro Cure President Greg Baughman and CEO Tracee McAfee sat down with cultivation consultant Ryan Douglas. This conversation covers a wide span of cannabis industry cultivation trends and how companies can capitalize on them to achieve success. Read a quick summary of that conversation below, watch the full interview on YouTube, or download this podcast episode from platforms like Spotify and Google Podcasts.

Assessing cannabis industry challenges

For the last five years, Douglas has worked as an independent cannabis cultivation consultant internationally, helping operations run more profitable cultivation sites. Previously, Douglas led cultivation Tweed Inc., one of the largest cannabis producers in Canada under the Canopy Growth umbrella. There, he developed and launched the company’s cultivation program.

Douglas spoke to Greg and Tracee on the podcast about how success for cultivators is tied to the basic economic principle of supply and demand. As cultivation capacity ramps up in legal markets and more cannabis becomes available, product prices go down.

“While this is beneficial for the consumer, it can be anxiety-inducing for business owners,” Douglas said. “More mature states have either flatlined or [have] slightly decreased overall sales. I think we will continue to see that overall trend, but it’s not going to fall off a cliff,” he continued. 

Douglas did, however, note excitement and economic opportunity in states initiating medical or adult-use programs for the first time. 

Overcoming hurdles in cannabis cultivation

As a consultant, Douglas brings a fresh perspective from assessing common issues and implementing cutting-edge techniques like data-driven growing. The lessons he’s learned by working with a wide range of cannabis companies give him deep insight into the state of the industry and where it’s going next.

“While people working seven days a week can lose sight,” Douglas says, “For an outsider, it typically takes about 20 minutes for red flags to present themselves.” 

In terms of improvement, Douglas focused on two key areas. First, be sure of what it costs to produce a pound of cannabis. Second, turn to technologies and airtight processes to increase efficiencies that help keep those costs at bay. 

For growers who have focused on both these areas but still struggle to stand out, Douglas advises supplementing revenue with products and services other than flower.

“There are a number of ancillary businesses that are of tremendous benefit to growers and in great demand – things like young plant producers, culture services, and diagnostic lab services,” he said.

Finding the next big thing

Douglas shared on the podcast that he expects to see a transition from indoor cultivation to greenhouse cultivation in states where production is saturated.

“I think it’s going to become more and more competitive growing indoors,” Douglas explained. “Regardless of how efficient these lights are, [indoor grows] require a lot of HVAC and dehumidification – both of which run on energy,” Douglas continued. “If you have the right greenhouse and grower, you can maintain good quality.” 

Further, as new companies come online and existing companies expand, Douglas expects that they will turn to greenhouses to offset the carbon footprint of their indoor facilities.

How GMP affects the grow

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) are quality standards established with the goals of creating a consistent product and guaranteeing consumer safety in mind. Because cannabis is not federally legal in the U.S., no federal agency enforces these rules or requires GMP certification for the cultivation portion of a business. The result is drastic variation in the standards of cultivation sites. 

As federal legalization inches closer, Douglas noted that the companies that voluntarily implement some kind of quality management system would already be in the best position to succeed in the future. 

“Pick one, stick with it, and you’ll be in a much better situation when federal legalization comes into play,” he says. “It’s easier to tweak than to start from scratch.”  

It’s generally accepted that GMP standards are eventually coming to the cannabis industry, and getting ahead of the game with an effective quality assurance program today could be key to attaining a competitive advantage tomorrow.

The biggest myth of cultivation  

As someone with a background and training in traditional horticulture, Douglas says the biggest misconception in cultivation is that cannabis is entirely different from any other crop out there. 

“I was growing ornamental crops and hydroponic vegetables in a greenhouse for a decade and a half before I transitioned to cannabis,” he said. “I’ve got a unique perspective in that I’ve grown flowers, vegetables, and cannabis on a commercial scale. In my opinion, 80 to 90% of the production principles of growing flowers and vegetables apply directly to cannabis.” 

According to Douglas, hiring someone with commercial cultivation facility experience of any kind might be more beneficial than someone with strictly cannabis experience. 

“You can pull a home grower with small-scale experience, but a commercial facility is a world of difference,” he said. “It’s not always the case, but it can often be better to pair a commercial grower with a subject matter expert for a short period of time to bring them up to speed on cannabis.”

Go from seed to success with Ryan Douglas

If you’re interested in learning more about cultivation from Ryan Douglas, Tracee describes his book From Seed to Success as “a Bible for anyone considering getting into cannabis cultivation” that also offers actionable advice for experienced growers. 

With his first book about starting a cultivation business, Douglas also teased the possibility of a second book on optimizing grow operations. 

“2023 is going to be the year of optimization,” he said. “The most successful businesses are going to be the ones that are the most efficient and can really dial in their operations.” 

You can listen to the full episode with Ryan Douglas by clicking here.

Read the recaps of previous Cold Truth episodes: