From seed to sale: First retail cannabis farm in California beginning of a legacy in Nevada County
DenCob Farms Opens as California’s First Retail Cannabis Farm, Cultivating Organic Cannabis for Local Consumers.
The first retail cannabis farm in the state of California has opened in Smartsville which means that the products sold on site are cultivated specifically for the consumer, and are not resold to larger dispensaries.
DenCob Farms located at 10086 Crescenzi Place in Smartsville is a certified organic cannabis farm owned and operated by Juan and Concepcion Paniagua.
They are also one of only a handful of certified organic cannabis farms in the state.
The Paniagua family do not see DenCob simply as a business venture, but as a family legacy. The name of the farm came from a combination of the second syllable of their two son’s names — Jayden and Jacob — DenCob.
Quality and the commitment to detail is seen in all areas of the farm, and because it is retail rather than the common dispensary, the middle-man costs are eliminated.
Only cannabis grown on the property or from farms in Nevada County are available at DenCob, which is another aspect of the lifestyle that Juan and Concepcion Paniagua value.
“We’re trying to support the farmers right now. We feel like the farmers are the ones that are the ones losing the most, and farmers are doing the most work,” Juan Paniagua said. “They are not even getting appreciated.”
DenCob is truly a ‘seed to sale’ facility, according to Robert Myers, who is responsible for all the testing and laboratory work at DenCob.
“Everything from the seedling to the sales is all processed on the farm for the DenCob brand, and it’s all an organic process,” Myers said.
A visitor can view cannabis plants on the property that thrive under the direct sun, a method in contrast to indoor cultivation which relies on artificial lighting and controlled environments.
The Paniagua family and their team at DenCob have made a concerted effort to cultivate high-THC cannabis with terpene rich strains that meet the strict requirements of an organic certification.
Myers tests the cannabis flower and other products, and tracks the terpene profiles for each, along with even the smallest traces of metals or pesticides.
Customers are guided by advice from the sales assistants at DenCob, and education of the customer regarding the potency and character of each cannabis flower or product is key.
The number of terpenes produced by a cannabis plant is determined by how well it performs photosynthesis, a process that’s affected by the plant’s environment, temperature, soil, humidity, and sources of energy.
The outdoor conditions, soil, and unique terroirs such as wind patterns and the touch of human hands produce a diversity of flavors and more abundant terpenes.
When creating extracts or concentrates from the DenCob flower, Myers ensures that the unique terpenes that are usually stripped from the buds during the process, are extracted first from the plant, then returned to the finished extract.
Much of the handling of the plant is done at night, according to Myers.
“The interesting thing is all the stuff that comes to life at night because of the location of the farms and the position he has the grows, as the moon comes up at night, there’s a soft breeze and all the change — everything — their whole livelihood is there in the evenings. Once the sun goes down, that’s when we touch the plants; we do everything at night,” Myers said.
Cannabis grown indoors can’t replicate cannabis grown outdoors.
“We work for the plant; the plant doesn’t work for us,” Juan Paniagua said. “We give the plant what it needs.”
The soil is enriched with potassium, nitrogen, or calcium just at the right time, and tested each season to make sure the roots are getting what they need to flourish.
“A lot of people don’t pay attention to the terpenes, but that’s half the value of the product,” Myers said. “Terpenes control the aroma and sensation you get, the flavor, and can direct what your mood and body feel.”
Tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC, works in combination with the terpenes.
“Outdoors is truly the absolute best environment for cannabis,” Myers said.
Juan and Concepcion or ‘Connie’ Paniagua work with the data that Myers gives them to control the nutrients which controls the effect a cannabis product will give to the consumer.
Connie Paniagua said that many of the clientele come to DenCob for therapeutics, an alternative to traditional Western medicine.
Friends who suffer from illness or medical conditions that need pain relief, help sleeping, relaxation from stress relief, but don’t want to take pills and prescriptions, can be guided to a cream, gummies, or tinctures which are extracts that are placed under the tongue using a spray or dropper.
“They come for wellness,” Connie Paniagua said. “We’re very proud of that, and also to know that they’re not getting an artificial product; it’s grown here, and we know that it’s good. We’re giving them something that’s going to be awesome for them at an affordable price.”
The fact that DenCob helps local farmers process the plants, transport the crops with legal safety regulations, and allow the local farmers to sell their products at retail, helps the local economy as well.
When the Paniagua family decided they wanted a change in their own lifestyle and move with their children from Santa Rosa to Smartsville, buy property, build a business that they can pass on to the next generation, they were surprised at the amount of support available in Nevada County.
Diana Gamzon, executive director for Nevada County Cannabis Alliance acted as a liaison between the DenCob family and the legal requirements to become permitted, which can be a complex process.
“To get our license, it was hard. The Alliance was a big part of our life. They worked very close to us, because we are farmers; we’re not educated people,” Juan Paniagua said.
“The Alliance and other groups of people were able to fill that gap and say, ‘You need to fill out this or you need to get this consultant.’ Diana (Gamzon) and their group are there for us. Every time we call, they answer, and they’ve been a big part of our family,” Juan Paniagua said.
Gamzon recognizes the potential for this first farm to retail cannabis farm, and other future retail farms.
“The Cannabis Alliance was thrilled to support DenCob Farms, one of our members, in the opening of their farm-to-retail,” Gamzon said. “This is such a unique opportunity for locals and tourists to have an experience at one of our licensed cannabis farms. Visitors to the location, just outside of Penn Valley, can meet the farmer and learn about the growing techniques while purchasing local cannabis products.”
In November of 2018 a business license tax measure was approved by Nevada County voters in the general election, so in many ways the county had to find their way through the process too.
“The County has been very gracious with the process,” Myers said.
Sue Hoek, Supervisor for District 4, and Lisa Swarthout, Supervisor for District 3, visited DenCob and were given a tour, according to Juan Paniagua. Also, Thomas Maoli, Nevada County’s senior cannabis compliance officer helped DenCob obtain permits for the farm.
“Thomas has been awesome. Everybody at the County has been awesome,” Connie Paniagua said. “There were little bumps in the road because it was new to them and to us in 2018… Now we’ve grown to appreciate each other.”
Connie Paniagua went on to say, “Eventually Thomas said, ‘I’m here to help you. Whatever you guys need.’ When somebody says that to you, it means a lot.”
The team at DenCob have learned to navigate the legislation, the certifications, the permitting process, and the inspection process that goes hand-in-hand with the laboratory excellence that Myers contributes.
“I never imagined us learning so much. It’s not learning just cannabis anymore. I’m learning laboratory. I’m learning how to meet with the county and not be afraid anymore. It’s, you know, it’s a lot. For somebody that came from the illegal market to become legal, it was a lot of strain. It was very difficult to transition because you don’t understand it,” Juan Paniagua said.
The variety of cannabis products created in Nevada County from gummies to chocolate, to beverages or tinctures can be sold at DenCob if the product meets its testing standards.
“And you know what, we got this. I think having retail — from the farm to the consumer — is going to change the world of cannabis,” Juan Paniagua said. “Our goal is to give the consumer another option.”
Juan went on to say, “Our community has a lot of good inventors Farmers that have done it for a long time, but they were hidden; they were like hidden jewels because it was so against the law… If everything tests good, why not open a brand for them? A cream or lotion or something? You know, because now they can do it legally here.”
