Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Friday, June 5, 2020
Page 9
NEWS & BUSINESS
ESSENTIAL GROWTH Producers thriving in a pandemic-changed world By Kate A. Miner EVERCANNABIS CORRESPONDENT
These are strange times for everyone, and the last few months have been devastating to many businesses. But one industry in Washington continues to thrive: cannabis. Considered essential, retailers, farms and processors are still scrambling to keep up with the demand. According to Marijuana Business Daily, cannabis sales in both Colorado and Washington continue to rise, quickly eclipsing sales at this same time in 2019. In general, April is typically the biggest month across the industry with the celebration of 4/20, and – despite the lack of typical events surrounding the holiday – sales were still significantly greater than last year. Grow facilities, for example, can barely keep up with the demand. Grow Op Farms, the home of Phat Panda and other products, based in Spokane Valley, has hundreds of employees working full time while practicing social distancing. “Processing and lunchroom areas have been spaced out so there are no more than two to a table, all masked, with 6-foot distancing constantly enforced,” explained Katrina McKinley, COO for Grow Op Farms. “Everyone used to eat lunch together, now the lunch groups have been divided to help with social distancing.” To make sure everyone is maintaining the highest standards, the team at Grow Op Farms is cleaning around the clock and disinfecting all surface areas every 30 minutes. Sick policies are also being heavily enforced, which means
grow it fast enough. “With this significant increase in sales and demand, the hope is that the cannabis industry will not be so strictly regulated in the future,” she said. “Although considered an essential business by medical standards, we are not allowed the perks most businesses are receiving during this crisis.” For Evergreen Herbal, a food manufacturer in Seattle known for cannabis-infused edibles and beverages, it’s business as usual with some changes that will most likely remain for months. “In many ways, this has made our business better,” said Andrew Brassington, Evergreen Herbal president. “We manufacture and process food, so we already had many of the sanitizing standards in place, but it has all been increased.” He said everyone must regularly sanitize their hands, wear hair nets, sanitized lab jackets and gloves, and foot baths now are required. There are blue Xs throughout the facility to inCOURTESY GROW OP FARMS dicate 6-foot distancing, and many employees are working Grow Op Farms in Spokane Valley has implemented a variety of social distancing and sanitation remotely. Delivery drivers measures, including staggered lunch shifts. wear masks and gloves, and if you do not feel well you are home if you are sick, and Bud- bottles are everywhere. Deliv- constantly use alcohol sprays asked to stay home, which dy Boy took it one step further. ery drivers always are required and wipes. The facility is some folks have taken advan“We have given the older or to wear masks and gloves, and washed and disinfected daily, tage of. For the most part how- at-risk employees, or those drivers’ pay was increased. and hand washing stations ever, everyone is happy to be with at-risk family members, Additionally, no drivers are have been installed. working. the option of going on standrequired to stay at a retailer “We plan to maintain this “We can barely keep up with by,” said Galadriel Walser, for counts. level of scrutiny for a minithe demand,” McKinley said in general manager for Buddy Boy “It’s a team effort,” said mum of four months and it May. “It’s crazy. And it keeps Farm. “Some of our older emWalser. “We’re trying to buy may become the new norm steadily increasing. We’re hav- ployees opted for this, but local for lunches to support moving forward. Productivity ing the biggest months we’ve most wanted to work.” surrounding farms and local and morale have increased, and ever had.” Like other growers, they are businesses, and all our teams those working from home are For some growers, like Bud- respecting social distancing are working very hard. Businot as stressed out,” Brassingdy Boy Farm in northwest and asking that folks try to ness is booming, and we can ton said. “We all love not havSpokane, temperatures are abide by these guidelines at only pack up so much, and it ing to deal with traffic. All taken upon entry for all emhome too. never seems to be enough.” these changes have become ployees. Strict protocols have Everyone is required to wear She said Buddy Boy harvests unintended perks, making our been created about staying a mask, and hand sanitizer product every week, but can’t business more productive.”
