Under the leadership of CEO and founder Derek Ross, Nova Farms has transformed from a startup facing significant challenges into the largest, privately owned, vertically integrated cannabis operator in the Northeast of the USA. In this exclusive interview, Derek Ross shares their journey, the philosophy driving success, and future expansion.
Interviewer: Nova Farms has become a major player in the cannabis industry, but it was not all straightforward. Can you tell us about the early challenges you faced?
Ross: Absolutely. Our journey began in Rhode Island, and we faced lots of regulatory hurdles. The state’s cannabis regulations were heavily skewed towards vertically integrated operations, which left many cultivators like us in a tough spot. This forced us to sell our initial venture, Ocean State Cultivation Center, to a Californian company and move to Massachusetts. It was a frustrating experience, but it also fuelled our determination to succeed.
Interviewer: That must have been a difficult decision. How did this experience shape your approach?
Ross: It was. But that ultimately pushed us to innovate and think creatively. We realized that to thrive, we needed a flexible regulatory framework that supports the best operators. This led us to focus on outdoor cultivation, which allows for larger-scale operations and more efficient production.
Interviewer: Nova Farms is known for its use of outdoor cultivation. As well as its ability to allow for larger-scale production, what else inspired this approach?
Ross: In the end, it was a natural choice for us. I had years of experience growing indoors and outdoors, and I saw the potential for larger-scale, more sustainable production outdoors. The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) in Massachusetts had not seen an outdoor grow plan before, and most of their regulations were designed for indoor operations. We had to work hard to prove that our model could work, but it paid off. We can produce in metric tons, which is far beyond the traditional indoor limits.
Interviewer: Nova has been growing rapidly, acquiring licenses, opening dispensaries, etc. What is the secret to such explosive growth?
Ross: It is all about having a clear mission and a strong team. We started with a ninety-acre farm in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and quickly expanded from there. Now, we have dispensaries in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Jersey, and we are moving into Connecticut. We have also gone from five employees to over 400.
Interviewer: Quality seems to be a core principle for Nova Farms. How do you maintain that across different states?
Ross: We aim to build brands that people recognize and trust. Unlike the alcohol industry, where you can have a centralized production facility, with cannabis, you must recreate your supply chain in every state. This makes maintaining consistent quality challenging, but it is crucial.
Interviewer: You focus on full-spectrum cannabis products rather than high THC distillates. Can you explain why?
Ross: THC is the same compound whether it is in sativa or an indica. While you can achieve high percentages with distillates, we believe in the benefits of full-spectrum products that use the full range of cannabinoids and terpenes. These compounds work together to create the desired effects, and they offer a richer, more nuanced experience. We want consumers to understand the importance of terpenes and how they influence the effects of cannabis.
Interviewer: Beyond the business, you have also founded the Aged-Out Foundation. Can you tell us a little more about that?
Ross: I grew up in the foster care system, moving through 27 different homes. It was challenging, but it made me who I am today. I have always wanted to give back to kids who are aging out of the system. The foster care system has a high failure rate, and many kids face significant hardships when they age out. The Aged-Out Foundation is my way of trying to improve those odds. We are still in the early stages, but we have big plans and some great people helping us get started.
Interviewer: So, what is next for Nova Farms?
Ross: We are constantly looking to the future. We are expanding our operations, improving our product lines, and continuing to experiment with outdoor cultivation. Our goal is to make cannabis accessible to everyone and to maintain the best standards. We believe that cannabis is a right and should be readily available to all. We will keep pushing boundaries and striving to cultivate better lives, one plant at a time.
Nova Farms has dispensaries throughout Massachusetts in Attleboro, Dracut, and Framingham, one in Greenville, Maine, and their newest location in Woodbury, New Jersey. Their journey is far from over, and they invite everyone to experience their expertly crafted concentrates, tasty vapes, mouthwatering edibles, and wide selection of locally sourced accessories. Nova Farms is dedicated to making cannabis accessible to everyone, freezing most of its cannabis crops to capture the freshest terpenes and cannabinoids through extraction, you can quite literally taste the difference!