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Today we discuss the cannabis industry and emerging trends in it with Rand Gifford of Akira Botanicals.  We cover industrial, medicinal and recreational elements.  The current trends in legislation and economic opportunities and more.

Rand started his farm in 2016 out of his grandma’s backyard. Using the Curtis Stone model, he grew microgreens and salad greens for chefs in the Chicagoland area. With one season of gardening under his belt, he decided he was ready to be a full-time farmer. The following season, he moved his family to North Carolina and started a farm from scratch. (see Greenshine Farmers YouTube Channel)

Using the same model, he found a niche selling mixed greens and other veggies to grocery stores, food hubs, and restaurants. He invested all of his profits into high tunnels, packing shed, and a travel trailer to live in. He would go on to have 2 more children (3 total, all 18 months apart) and pulled 100+ hr weeks to make ends meet.

In 2019 he applied for his hemp permit and began growing hemp flower for CBD production. Greenshine Farms just didn’t sound very marketable when it came to CBD products and so he began a subsidiary known as Akira Botanicals. The market was flooded that year with everyone and their mother trying to cash in on the ‘green wave’ and having put everything into that year’s crop, the future of the farm depended on his ability to move product.

Luckily that year, Akira Botanicals won a Cannabis Cup for their Cherry Cobbler flower and that helped them move the majority of their harvest. They didn’t make very much that first year, but it was enough to get them into next season.

Since then they’ve improved their growing practices, sales strategy, packaging, and website every year. What started as an idea was beginning to take on a life of it’s own. Akira Botanicals won two more Cannabis Cup awards in 2021 and has since begun to gain a reputation in the CBD community as having high quality products.

In 2022, Rand finally was able to build a house on farm. With the help of some truly awesome friends, the house was completed just in time for winter.

Sponsors of the Day

• JM Bullion – Stack Silver and Gold with Free Shipping (MSB Members get a Discount too)
• Butcher Box – A giant box of grass fed & pastured meat right to your door every month.
• Alan Bookers Amazing Plant Genetics Seminar – From Paul Wheaton
• Join the MSB Here
• Politics is a Game T-Shirts at TspSwag.com

Rand’s Links

• Akira Botanicals – Rands Main Website
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akirabotanicals
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/akirabotanicals
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@akira_botanicals/videos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akirabotanicals/

Video Version of Today’s Podcast

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon.

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