Know Your Grower -- Kiona

by Rachel Hantula, customer & product manager

This week we are featuring Kiona as a part of our Know Your Grower series. Kiona is a Tier 3 farm in Benton City, Washington. Kiona is truly a unique and special gem in the commercial cannabis market . The founding folks of Kiona are visionaries. They have a mission to perpetuate the genetic diversity and broadest range of desirable effects in traditional and modern cannabis. They specialize in producing tropical sativas, landraces, heirlooms and rare genetics.

Kiona grows their cannabis in native, living soil harnessing the magnificent power of the sun. Why? This allows their plants to fully express their unique traits. Tropical sativas in particular, which Kiona grows plenty of, can struggle to grow in artificial light. Additionally, this significantly lowers Kiona’s overall carbon footprint. They also never utilize any harsh chemical pesticides. Kiona employs the use of botanical oils and beneficial insects. 

Landraces & Heirlooms

Landrace strains are cannabis plants indigenous to a specific geographical location somewhere in the world. Throughout time, these indigenous cannabis plants have adapted specifically to thrive in their local environment and maintain distinct characteristics local to their region of the world. Many strains coming from similar environments will have notably similar flavors, smells, and psychotropic effects.

Many landrace strains are named after the location they are indigenous to — for example, Durban Poison, Acapulco Gold, Thai, Panama Red. 

Most landrace strains have pure sativa or indica genetics, having never been contaminated or crossbred with another species. Landrace strains have been interbred to make thousands of different hybridized crosses. These particular types of cultivars are difficult to find in the commercial cannabis market.

Heirlooms are simply landrace strains that have been removed from their indegenous environment to be grown in a different location. Since environment can impact genetic makeup and how it is passed from generation to generation in addition to how those genes present themselves, the “pure” landrace genetics can start to dilute. Heirlooms are also seemingly rare in a commercial cannabis market. 

Thankfully, we have Kiona here in Washington to bring to the market these classic, unique genetics that are able to diverge from the seemingly homogenized effects of today’s modern cannabis strains.

 Some Hashtag staff recommendations from Kiona:

Dread Bread: This gorgeous, vigorous sativa is a true first generation landrace indica-to-landrace sativa hybrid. The effect is somewhat dissociative, helping to distract from the aches and pains of daily life. Simultaneously, it is energizing making it perfect for hiking and sports. Dread Bread is a truly elite strain that is nearly impossible to find commercially from anyone but Kiona.

Loompa’s Headband: Loompa’s Headband is an exclusive OG Kush x Sour Diesel cutting from Loompa Farms. She’s extremely dank, with a pronounced lemon fuel scent and thick flavor. There will be no disappointment for those seeking long-lasting deep stony effects with mood enhancement and pain relief. Be ready for her powerful high to come on slow and steady.

Monolith: Monolith possesses that classic deep pungent aroma associated with wide-leafed Afghanicas, hard to find for decades. This cultivar produces a high that is more complex than contemporary pure Afghanicas. It brings the user to a state of calm, without the dull couch-lock effect common to contemporary plants of this type.