In the ever-evolving world of commercial cannabis, post-harvest practices often determine the fine line between good flower and great flower. Few understand this better than Jack Grover, CEO and founder of Grove Bags. Driven by a personal connection to medical cannabis and equipped with lessons from both the startup world and traditional supply chains, Grover recognized an overlooked gap in how cannabis is cured, stored, and sold. Grove Bags has since become a trusted partner for growers across the spectrum—from boutique craft cultivators to large multi-state operators—thanks to their proprietary TerpLoc® technology designed to optimize shelf life, potency, and terpene preservation.
In this Q&A, Grover breaks down the science behind TerpLoc®, the challenges of scaling a cannabis-focused packaging business, and why proper post-harvest care is more essential than ever for cultivators who are aiming to build brand loyalty. Read the full interview below!
Before launching Grove Bags, what was your background? And what inspired you to pursue the idea that led to launching a packaging company?
My first real-world job was working in a deli when I was 14. I later started work as an investment analyst, and shortly after I switched over to working for a startup. That startup was the probably the most valuable job I had pre-cannabis, learning a lot about what not to do. Eventually, I left after about six months and then jumped over to my last job prior to entering the cannabis space and founding Grove Bags. I had a lot of success with building out a sales team and strategy for a restaurant delivery app. That was an amazing experience with extraordinary people, a lot of whom I’m still in touch with today. That opened my eyes to a lot of things, and it was there at that time that I developed the confidence and momentum to go out on my own. Coupled with everything I saw going on at home with my brother Charlie’s battle with cerebral palsy, developments in the cannabis industry and medical cannabis community, and how I could fulfill a serious need in the supply chain through plant-specific packaging solutions, I left that company to start Grove Bags.
Can you explain the science behind TerpLoc technology? What sparked the original idea, and what was the process like bringing your concept to market?
I became interested in cannabis and saw how it was a great way to make an overarching impact. I understood packaging and supply chains, and how there was quite a bit of work to be done to improve these aspects of the industry, especially with plant-specific solutions that were tailored to the unique physiology of cannabis and how its medicinal properties are cured, stored, and ultimately preserved. The way that all mature agricultural industries are dealing with extending product shelf life is by carefully controlling gas mixtures. Gas mixtures are the key to the enzymatic process that occur within the plant residually after the actual drying process has ended and the curing process has begun. Our TerpLoc® technology utilizes a blend of several film elements to create the optimal cannabis atmosphere inside every package. Grove Bags allow growers to take advantage of key permeability and protective properties that suit the specific needs of cannabis, eliminating the need for ‘burping’ while curing entirely. The “aha” moment would be seeing the industry in Colorado and California and seeing the widespread problems in post harvest optimization across a lot of organizations and teams.
Can you share any data or case studies that demonstrate how your products have impacted potency, freshness, and shelf stability?
We’ve commissioned multiple third-party long term stability studies comparing our material to other curing and storage methods, including common old-school approaches like glass jars with and without active atmospheric modifiers that claim to control humidity. Our findings have consistently shown that our bags most effectively retain the full spectrum of the desirable volatile organic compounds people look for in cannabis – cannabinoids and terpenes. We also regularly conduct in-house testing, though we understand the need for objective studies in parallel. Results from our third-party studies and analysis can all be found on our website. We also encourage growers to talk to each other and share their experience; thousands of cultivators around the world, from smaller craft grows to larger multi-state operators, have switched their SOPs to take advantage of the benefits our technology offers. You can also find some of these experiences documented on our blog; most recently we visited with Native Roots out in Colorado and Wojo Co. in Michigan, both being top cultivators in their respective markets and people we’re proud to call partners. In addition, if you look at many cannabis competitions such as the recent Zalympix in Los Angeles, the vast majority of podium place holders across the categories utilize our products in their processes.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced early on? Do you find that the obstacles you’re tackling today have changed much, or is it more of a continuation of the same battles?
There’s a myriad. From supply chain difficulties, to intensive competition, to strict and ever changing regulations, we’re in a very fluid industry that requires constant proactive management. On top of that, getting our foot in the door at all took persistence; we came in with a new technology that almost seemed too good to be true, and for growers who’ve been using the same techniques for decades, getting them on board to just try out TerpLoc® head to head with their existing process took some convincing. Once growers test it, however, they quickly see how much simpler their post-harvest can be and how much better their product can be cured and preserved at its best. Much like the tumultuous legal landscape of cannabis, this is a challenge that we continuously work on as the market and consumers evolve.
The cannabis industry has changed dramatically in the last decade—what are some key shifts that have had an impact on your business?
I think we’re seeing a lot of legislation and industry standards form already; the issue and challenge is the lack of cohesion across states as a major challenge for enterprising multi state operators and brands. In the packaging space, this means disparate regulations, over compliance, what types of products can be sold, and how people can purchase them. We also keep a close eye on changes to the tax code, with packaging being one of the few expenses that cultivators have been able to write off.
How does proper curing and storage impact the overall value of cannabis products from a wholesale purchasing perspective, i.e. when retailers choose what to stock from their manufacturing partners?
The biggest thing that’s happening when you burp your standard mason jar is that you’re not passing the right amount of atmospheric gas mixtures that you need for cannabis. This causes terpenes to become separated from the headspace of the flower and to ultimately evacuate the package. This leads to rapid evaporation and oxidation in the environment. A proper cure and the right storage vessel helps prevent this, and ensures that growers are showing their best to the market, and consumers are getting the best end product.
The rise of multi-state operators and large-scale cultivation has had a major impact on supply chains. How has Grove Bags adapted to serve both small craft growers and large commercial operations?
We manufacture entirely in the United States, so especially for domestic operators, our customer service and shipping experience is unmatched. Our product lineup reflects our accessibility at any scale as well; quarter pound bags are popular with home and cottage growers, but for larger scale cultivators, our ten-pound bags and 55 gallon drum liners can help them optimize much larger harvests.
Margins are tight for legal cannabis producers regardless of scale. How do you communicate the ROI of proper curing and storage to growers who are working with razor-thin budgets?
Maintaining proper moisture content throughout the supply chain is crucial for growers, with 0.1 gram of flower equating to around ~$1 in revenue in some markets. And qualitatively speaking, higher grade flower commands much higher prices. We encourage our clients to analyze the investment in our products with the belief and ability to help them make more money, as our system is an investment, after all, terps pay the bills. Having a storage solution that ensures weight retention is important not only for keeping buyers happy, but for presenting a higher quality product with as much of its VOC profile intact. This can also solidify a brand’s reputation and command a higher price point as their name becomes associated with the highest quality.
What advice would you give to today’s startup cannabis brands looking to optimize their post-harvest process? What would you say are some of the most common mistakes that early-stage brands make?
A lot of companies build dry rooms that don’t have good airflow, are too small, and either have far too much or too little cooling and moisture control. Most companies don’t have storage rooms that have proper environmental controls either. It’s important to remember that above 65 degrees fahrenheit, the respiration rate of terpenes and VOCs off the plant increases quite dramatically, which if you’re not drying properly and need to do burping/purging/flushing of excess moisture, you’re going to have a lot of qualitative loss during that process. You will also stress the plant more. Inversely, below 45 degrees and you will start to go beyond traditional slowing of digestive processes, but will actually structurally damage the plant by abusing the dew point of the flower given the contraction and expansion of residual bound and unbound water; even at our suggested ideal water activity level of .58-.62, it’s not ideal. Beyond those rooms and environmental considerations, I see a very common flaw which is focusing myopically on one aspect or another of a facility vs. holistic flexibility. Room for expansion is great, but plan for organic healthy growth, focus on production costs not production potential. The cost per pound vs. yield per light consideration is crucial. Also embracing newer technologies such as under-canopy lighting as championed notably by Faven Lighting and @bobby.bagz and mastering mixed light like David Polley and the team at Preferred Gardens is important. You must embrace the fact that it’s a fluid industry with fluid market dynamics.
How do you think a federal adult-use cannabis market in the US might regulate packaging?
I think it will certainly come down to child resistant packaging at point of sale, even if that is one time use and tamper evident child resistant vs. child resistant every time a product is opened and closed. Additionally I think we may see strict labeling requirements holistically, like many states have already, against imagery that may appeal to children. Additionally you may see some legislation around packaging that has an ability to protect water activity levels and other attempts at crony capitalism lobbied for by special interests that cannot win market share based on value and product performance.
Thank you, Jack, for sharing your insights with us today! To learn more about Grove Bags and TerpLoc, visit the Grove Bags website.
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