CraftAg

CraftAg, LLC operates as a vertically integrated agribusiness and technology company focused on the hemp market. The company was established as a joint venture in February 2020 between CraftAg Enterprises Inc. and Seneca Foods Corporation, a major North American provider of packaged fruits and vegetables. This partnership was formed to leverage CraftAg's expertise in hemp with Seneca's extensive experience in large-scale food production and distribution. Seneca Foods invested approximately $10 million and contributed a 270,000-square-foot facility in Sunnyside, Washington, for a 49% stake in the venture.

The business model is centered on a seed-to-sale approach, managing the entire supply chain from genetics to final product. CraftAg was an early entrant in Washington State's hemp pilot program, collaborating with a network of growers in the Yakima Valley. The company's primary offering is "AromaHemp™," a premium quality input for smokable hemp products and herbal vapor blends, distinguished by proprietary seed genetics from Sovereign Fields. This product line is designed to provide a relaxing effect without the psychoactive properties of THC, positioning it as a potential alternative for tobacco smokers. The company's processing techniques for whole hemp flower set it apart from competitors who primarily focus on cannabinoid isolates.

A key operational aspect is its advanced preservation technology. In 2020, CraftAg partnered with its joint venture partner, Seneca Foods, to use lyophilization, or freeze-drying, to preserve hemp flower at its peak freshness immediately after harvest. This process, which CraftAg has branded "Otzi," is utilized at scale, making the firm a significant player in the application of this technology within the hemp industry. The main processing facility is a repurposed pear and apple cannery in Sunnyside, Washington, strategically located in a region well-suited for growing specialty crops like hemp. The company, led by CEO Rory Rawlings, also planned to modernize its seed and clone propagation facilities near Royal City, Washington.

Keywords: Agribusiness, Hemp, CBD, AromaHemp, Seed-to-sale, Smokable hemp, Herbal vapor blends, Lyophilization, Freeze-dried hemp, Agricultural technology, Washington State hemp, Yakima Valley, Cannabidiol, Nicotine alternative, Hemp processing, Sovereign Fields genetics, Rory Rawlings, Seneca Foods joint venture, Otzi preservation, Whole flower hemp