When people ask me what makes great cannabis, my answer is always the same: genetics. You can have the most advanced lighting system, a state-of-the-art facility, and the cleanest grow, but if the genetics aren’t right, you’ll never produce exceptional flower.
Good genetics form the blueprint for everything that follows. They determine terpene profiles, cannabinoid content, plant morphology, resistance to pests and mold, and how well the plant handles stress. If you’ve ever smoked a strain that had no flavor, no punch, and left you wondering what all the hype was about, odds are it started with subpar genetics.
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For this reason, breed and pheno hunt year-round. Don’t just pick strains because they’re trending. Search for rare, stable, high-performing cultivars that meet your strict standards. Your grow shouldn’t be run by spreadsheets or hype. It needs to be guided by instinct, experience, and an obsessive attention to detail.
At Raven’s View Genetics, every new cultivar we bring to market goes through rigorous vetting. We test phenotypes for weeks, sometimes months, before we ever consider scaling. We’re looking for plants that hit on all levels: bag appeal, nose, potency, smokeability, and most importantly, consistency. If it doesn’t pass, it doesn’t stay.
Consistency is a word I come back to often. In a regulated market like New York, where patients and adult-use consumers expect the same experience every time, it’s non-negotiable. You can’t build trust without it. And you can’t get consistency without stable genetics.
But great genetics don’t just show up. They’re hunted, selected, and, when possible, created. Breeding is where art meets science. You’re working with living organisms that evolve with every generation. One minor tweak can unlock something extraordinary: a new terpene combo, a deeper color expression, or a profile that hits harder and cleaner than anything else on the shelf.
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Of course, not every cultivar we grow comes from our own breeding program. We’re not afraid to collaborate or hunt down proven winners from breeders we respect. But we treat every genetic with the same level of care. Once it enters our system, it goes through our process, our protocols, and our cultivation philosophy. That’s how we maintain quality across the board.
The cannabis industry is evolving fast, but too often, product quality takes a back seat to marketing. This is why we take the opposite approach. It’s better to let the plant do the talking. When a customer opens one of your jars, they should know right away that what’s inside was grown with purpose and precision.
Genetics are the foundation. They’re the difference between good and unforgettable. Because in a world of cookie-cutter strains and cut corners, they’re the only way to ensure that every hit delivers the experience you’re looking for. It all starts with the seed.
*This article was submitted by a guest contributor. The author is solely responsible for the content.