Marijuana Business Magazine January 2019

January 2019 | mjbizdaily.com 101 ingredient in our products supports the ethical values we think this industry represents,” Schroeder said. “It’s easy to lose sight of that, and easy to forget when you manufacture something you are responsible for a much broader environmental and ethical impact than just what leaves your workroom.” The focus on the ethics of a supply chain often means you have access to higher-quality products, Schroeder said. It also appeals to environmentally or socially con- scious consumers. For example, Somatik’s partners Ritual and Endorfin Foods have direct-trade relationships with the farmers who grow the coffee and cacao beans that Somatik uses in its cannabis-infused products. Direct trade means the businesses have cut out buyers and sellers and opt instead to work directly with farmers. In a direct-trade relationship, businesses can have more control over how products are grown and harvested and how workers are treated, Schroeder said. For example, Ritual worked with several coffee farms to convert them to organic farming practices, and Endorfin is working to have a 100% regenerative farming supply chain. Direct-trade partnerships can result in higher-quality products, Schroeder said, which translates to better flavors. Also, the workers who harvest products for Ritual and Endorfin often are paid two to three times more than a fair-trade wage, Schroeder said. “High-quality ingredients don’t happen by accident,” Schroeder said. “They happen when the supply chain has livable and sustainable wages. A lot of brands are focused on cheap. We’re focused on what’s right.” Christopher Schroeder and Clayton Coker are co-founders of Somatik. Courtesy Photo 5 Inspired by temperature USA Huber USA, Inc. 100 Centrewest Ct. Suite A Cary, NC 27513 Extraction at its finest Consistent and accurate temperature control solutions for easy integration in extraction labs and distillation plants for the best results and highest yields. For more information, please visit www.huber-usa.com/Unistat815 or call 800.726.4877