NY Craft Flower Cup Winners

The first-ever Cannabis Cup, held in Amsterdam in 1988, was a watershed moment for cannabis culture. Although cannabis was legal to some degree in Amsterdam, it was the first officially organized and open celebration of the plant. It wasn’t until over a decade later that the first U.S. Cup was held in CA. Since then, admirers of this plant all over the world have been gathering, sharing, and celebrating their love of this divine herb on the regular. Not long ago, on March 21, 2023, NY Small Farma (NYSF) hosted the first NY legally grown Cannabis Cup in Albany. NYSF is an education and advocacy organization working with legal and legacy growers. Each year, they host an intimate gathering of legal growers at their Farmer’s Forum, Flower Grading, and Supply-Chain Event. The Cup portion of the Forum was a collaboration between NYSF, Rochester’s Flower City Cup, and Roc NORML. While Roc NORML and Flower City Cup have dropped away, NYSF is continuing the tradition with its own NY Craft Flower Cup.

Headquartered in Kingston, NY, the organization is on a quest to manifest a new economic paradigm where businesses view people, plant, and planet as equal to, if not more important, than profits. Think Patagonia. Focused on the craft production tier of legalized cannabis, NYSF teaches and markets regenerative, non-extractive cultivation and business operations. They work exclusively with small craft growers who are looking to make social and environmental change through their cannabis operations. Champions of organic, living soil, and sun grown cannabis, NYSF promotes cultivation that works with nature as opposed to against it. Growers across NY looking to streamline costs through minimizing waste, energy use, and carbon footprint while improving the climate are their clients.

The annual Forum educates farmers on policy, science, and business. James Rogers, Director of Small Business at the NYS Office of Cannabis Management, gave the keynote speech at last year’s event. Other speakers covered topics on genetics, regenerative cultivation, branding, and flower grading.   The event draws the largest number of NY growers (licensed and legacy) from across the state, and the beauty of that is they all bring their flower. Unlike most other events, one cannot find a large multi-state operator, corporate cannabis cultivator, or corporate brand at a NYSF event. They are for New Yorkers by New Yorkers and focused on craft growers who love growing and sharing cannabis. The 2024 Cup in Kerhonkson, NY, added a legacy/homegrown/non-licensed growers category. They received over 46 total entries for flower alone.

Entries for the flower and hash-only Cup were received on the day of the event, and staff and volunteers worked throughout the event to intake and prepare the samples for take-home judging. The Cup does not boast celebrity or growers-only judges. Instead, it is a people’s choice Cup where the dispensary owners, budtenders, and everyday consumers judge the entries. After all, they are trying to launch a legal marketplace, so who better to hear from than the custys themselves? Judges were instructed to make the samples the first smoke of the day so that each entry received equal attention and judging. While such an approach does take longer to receive scores, especially from judges who are not everyday smokers, the serious treatment to scoring is well worth it. Final scores and winner notifications took place in August. Due to the growing and harvest season, the celebration of winners was not held until the Sunday before Thanksgiving at Mehanata, a NYC club on the Lower East Side. At the club, the Cup winners not only got bragging rights, but they were the exclusive brands at the NYSF budtender appreciation event, bringing those who sell in relationships with those who grow. Once you see the winner’s you’ll agree the wait is worth it. The Next Forum/Licensed Flower Cup will occur in March of 2025 at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY. See @nysmallfarma or sign up for their newsletter at www.nysmallfarma.org for the details. Until then, Skunk has the scoop on the 2024 flower winners:

Homegrow Winners:

3rd Place is Super Boof grown by Liz Alderson for Quality-of-Life Edibles, Saratoga County

Hybrid. Black Cherry Punch X Tropicana Cookies. It was grown from a clone in Sunshine, promix #4, and Soul Sensi by Aurora Organics. A balanced, relaxed mind and body, this strain delivers the canna-giggles. Silver calyxes adorn the deep green bud that produces an earthy-cheesy flavor with fruity undertones. Superboof is a strain that has won many Cups, and this grower brought out its best. Its powerful potency makes this popular strain a crowd-pleaser. It’s dominant terpene is myrcene (sedative qualities) and caryophyllene, and limonene.

@qualityoflifeedibles, a female homegrower, staying homegrow.

2nd Place is Grape Space Cake by New Roots Gardens, Albany County

Indica Dominant. Grape Stomper X Cherry Pie X Wedding Cake – super delicious fruity flavor and long-lasting high. The fruity taste is followed by a light spice on the first toke, with a building berry flavor as the burn continues. Nicely coated in trichomes this bud challenges the layperson’s understanding of an indica. While it is a strong body high, it is not sedating, and the mind high stays energetic and creative, not the least bit drowsy. The dominant terpene behind the long-lasting effects is myrcene, followed by limonene and linalool (anti-depressant).

(@newrootsgarden -IG/www.newrootsgardens.com grows in native soil, greenhouse light dep, greenhouse full term, and outdoor full term and the grower does not use amendments until the flowering stage. This long-term homegrower recently received a microbusiness license and is in dispensaries across NY, so you can grab some New Roots Garden Grape Space Cake for yourself.  

1st Place is Peel Out, grown by Alexander Zivian for Catskill Mountain Cannabis, Greene County

Indica Dominant. This gassy lady hails from a Motorbreath 15 X Banana Punch 9. She was developed by Symbiotic Genetics and delivers a smooth and delicious banana and vanilla flavor profile. She scored high across all the categories (look, smell, taste, smoke, and vibe) with all the judges. Her relaxing vibe is perfect for the end of the day. This entry dominated the homegrow category and took 4th for the Cup overall! She was grown indoors in the Hudson Valley with organic inputs and the utmost respect for the plant and its healing properties. The dominant terpenes are limonene (calming), myrcene, caryophyllene, and pinene (mood stabilizing).

Catskill Mountain Cannabis owner/Grower Alexander Zivian is a small-batch cultivator dedicated to respect, tradition, and ceremony surrounding the use of cannabis for wellness of the mind, body, and soul. He is on a mission to provide ceremonial-grade cannabis experiences for all through the cleanest, highest-quality flower grown with passion and intent. Catskill Mountain Cannabis is now a licensed microbusiness and one to keep your eye out for in dispensaries and events!

Licensed Cultivator Winners

5th Place is Nectarine Jelly grown by Chris Regan for Alchemy Pure, Dutchess County

Hybrid. Peach Panther (Peaches X Papaya Bomb) X Govern Mint Oasis (GMO X Gush Mints)

Fruity, sweet peach flavors with an umami, gassy finish. This powerful energy high delivers narcotic effects and is perfect for a low-key evening or winding down from a late-night excursion. Large cone-shaped buds of dark green with super bright orange hairs and frosty trichomes. Available in stores now.

Organic farmer-owned and operated, Alchemy Pure grows all-natural, clean cannabis on a four-acre farm in the Hudson Valley, growing in both greenhouses and naturally in the elements; the richness, power, and complexity of sun and Hudson Valley soil are reflected in their cannabis. Available in stores now. www.alchemypure.com/ @alchemy_pure

4th Place is Thin Mint Cookies grown by Tim Lagarry for Canna Cure, Warren County

Indica dominant hybrid. The daughter of legendary Girl Scout Cookies X OG Kush X Durban Poison, she’s dark green with purple hues fitting her royal line. Typically coated in thick crystal trichomes, she’s one to take to bed with you. Her minty, sweet aroma gives her her name. She smokes sweet with a slight nutty taste. Her “you ain’t going nowhere“ full body effect gives her her infamous reputation. Her terpene profile is caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene.

Located in the Adirondacks and grown in greenhouses using a mix of sunlight and supplemental light and then slow-dried and cured with minimal processing. Canna Cure is a family-owned cultivation in NY’s capital region. They are dedicated to growing premium, terpene, and cannabinoid-rich top-shelf flower using only sustainable, organic practices. Both of these cultivars are currently available in NY dispensaries. https://nycannacurefarms.com @cannacurefarms

3rd is Place Gelato 41, grown by Sasho Dimitrov of Silver Fin Lodge Farm for Gypsy Weed, Sullivan County

Very slightly sativa dominant hybrid. Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies X Sunset Sherbet. Golden white trichomes adorn this heart-shaped forest green bud, sporting bright orange pistils. When smoked, an earthy aroma opens to a super sweet creamy, fruity vanilla flavor. The high arrives right around the time of the last toke, bringing with it a full body calm and waves of positive vibes, chasing out any negative inner speak, like therapy for the mind and body. Dominant terpenes are Humulene, linalool Caryophyllene.

Gypsy Weed is a signature brand of Silver Fin Lodge Farm. The farm uses innovative light dep techniques in a state-of-the-art greenhouse to harness the combined power of technology and nature. Their methods enhance potency and minimize environmental impact. Nestled in the Catskill Mountains, these craft growers devote love, time, and patience to ensure every bud harvested reflects their dedication to quality and sustainability.

2nd Place is Krazy Runtz 3, grown by Travis Williams for Tap Root, Onondaga County

Slightly indica dominant hybrid.  Runtz (male) X Bonkers. Small, dense triangle-shaped buds of dark olive green with super thin orange hairs and chunky white, purple tinted trichomes. Lemon candy flavor that tastes like a delicious mix of lemon cand and gas when smoked. The effects of the high settle into your head and body together, giving you an uplifted head to toe relaxed feel. She won 1st place for aroma and 2nd place for potency. Dominant terpenes are limonene, followed by myrcene and caryophyllene. You can find her waiting for you at ANY dispensary.

1st Place is LA Kush Cake grown by Travis Williams for Tap Root, Onondaga County

Indica dominant. Wedding Cake X Kush Mints, a wildly popular cultivar that exhibits fluffy nugs of purple and olive green with thin yellow-orange pistils and golden white layers upon layers of trichomes. This cultivar also took 1st place for its look, taste, bud formation, and potency! She’s a tasty lady whose cerebral effects of creative euphoria arrive quickly. As you are soaring in bliss, feeling inspired to tackle the world, her body effects slowly move in, like ocean fog, leaving you totally relaxed and very stoned. Her earthy-peppermint flavor carries a sweet vanilla with it when smelled and opens to a woody pine and spicy diesel profile when smoked. Her relax nation of terpenes are limonene, caryophyllene, and linalool. Out in NY dispensaries now.

Taproot Fields Farm

Tap Root Cannabis is on a mission to grow the finest flowers, and our judges would agree. Using living soil techniques, Travis and team have unlocked the full genetic potential of each cultivar. The farm is dedicated to regenerative practices and Mother Nature. This team of top-tier canna professionals possess the passion and expertise to represent some of the best New York has to offer. Check out the Tap Root IG or website for dispensaries that carry these two winners. https://taprootthc.com @taprootfields

Feature photo: L Krazy Runtz #3