After several weeks, the curing phase is complete, and plants are removed from the totes and enter the trimming phase.
The flowering buds are “bucked" from the stalks and are trimmed and sorted into several categories: A Flower, B Flower, Trim, and Stems.
As a boutique cannabis cultivator, we take great pride in the quality of our final shelf-ready flower. We employ a large post-harvest crew that sorts and trims the cannabis biomass that has been bucked from the stalks.
This image shows one of our post-harvest technicians trimming flower buds, which are then placed in a larger tote that will then be sent to a third-party testing lab.
A Flower represents the larger flower buds that are hand selected and undergo a hand-trim by our post-harvest team in preparation for testing and then packaging.
B Flower represents smaller flower buds that can be used for pre-rolls or “smalls” bags – while they have the same THC content and medicinal qualities, they are simply smaller in size. Any remaining flower stems are separated from the buds before they are ground up in their next phase.
Trim represents the “sugar leaves” that are removed from the flower buds. The trim contains THC and terpenes, which are then extracted, refined, and distilled into THC distillate oil. This oil is then infused into “Processed Goods,” including vaporizers, edibles, topicals, tinctures, etc.
Stems are almost entirely fiber and do not contain any THC or terpenes. The stems are ground up and mixed with soil and other organic material that we compost in traditional flower and vegetable gardens.
A stem has been “bucked” when the usable cannabis biomass (i.e. the buds and trim) are removed from the primary stem.
A stem has been “bucked” when the usable cannabis biomass (i.e. the buds and trim) are removed from the primary stem.
Wet trimming involves trimming the buds while they are still fresh and moist, usually right after harvest. This process can be messier than dry trimming, but it is considered to be more efficient as it's easier to remove the leaves. Wet trimming can also preserve the trichomes, which are the small crystal-like structures on the buds that contain the majority of the psychoactive compounds in the plant. Wet trimming is also useful for making concentrates or edibles that are higher in THC or CBD. Dry trimming involves trimming the buds after they have been dried and cured. This process is considered to be cleaner and more precise than wet trimming, as the buds are more brittle and easier to handle. Dry trimming also preserves the shape of the buds, making them more aesthetically pleasing. Dry trimming buds also retain their terpenes, which give marijuana its distinct flavors and aromas. Both methods are widely used and have their own pros and cons, it will depend on the grower's preference and the end product desired. At River Remedy, we conduct a dry-trim..
While mechanical bucking is faster and reduces labor costs, it can lead to flower bud degradation due to the rough handling of the plant material. This is why River Remedy hand-bucks its stems – as a boutique cultivator, we want to ensure that the final product we produce is the highest of quality.
