In the town of Willits, California, something special is happening. For the second year in a row, a group of local cannabis growers are preparing for a contest that will determine who among them has the best weed in the county. At the end of the event, the growers of the top 5 strains will take home a trophy, and the contestant most skilled in the art and science of cannabis genetics will earn the coveted Best Breeder award. We’re talking, of course, about the Mendo Cup!
What is the Mendo Cup?
The Mendo Cup is a locally organized friendly cannabis cup that highlights cannabis grown the traditional way: outdoor on a small farm using sunlight and organic inputs. The contest is open to any farmers in Mendocino county who meet these criteria. In a show of support for the local cannabis industry, proceeds of the Cup will be shared among the farmers. Founded in 2025 by Nikki Lastreto and Swami Chaitanya, this event has rapidly become a symbol of the resilience and community spirit of the region's cannabis culture.
Nikki and Swami repping the 2025 banner
Why Mendo, and why Cannabis?
Well, it’s all about preserving and promoting the regional culture of cannabis growing. For decades, beginning way back before legalization, this region has been the cultural and genetic epicenter of craft cannabis on the West Coast, if not the entire country or continent. The collapse of the local logging industry, combined with the isolated mountains and good climate made Mendo and its neighboring counties an ideal breeding ground for a world class cannabis economy.
The early industry grew strains from all over the world in the different microclimates of the region, resulting in plants that expressed a wide range of properties. Seeds came from everywhere, and all had a story: brought back in a backpack by a wandering hippie who passed through the Middle East, sent over from someone’s cool uncle in rural Hawaii, or imported from Vietnam in a GI’s duffel bag- the origins are endless. This wealth of genetics was put to the test in every climate available, from the foggy Redwoods to the sunny rolling hills and valleys. This appreciation and deep understanding of how genetics interact with their environment is a key part of the regional cannabis cultural knowledge base.
The 2025 judges
The growers of the area were as eclectic as the seeds they grew- everyone from ex-loggers and wayward hippies to businessmen who had ditched their executive offices for a plot of forest. Whatever their background, these growers became captivated by the opportunities and properties of the plant. Prices sometimes topping $5,000 a pound outweighed the risk of arrest and drove growers to experiment even more, seeking unique plants that reflected their own tastes and the micro-climates of their farms. The cannabis renaissance of the region put Mendocino County on the map, alongside its neighbors Humboldt and Trinity, which became known collectively as the Emerald Triangle. The quality of bud brought in people from far and wide, some to taste, some to trim, and some to stay for good. Emerald triangle bud has infused pop culture as well, with strains developed here featuring in platinum song lyrics, movies, and TV across the planet.
This heyday of cultivation lasted roughly from somewhere in the 60’s to somewhere in the 2010’s, depending on who you ask. One thing that everyone agrees on is that now things are different. Legalization has forced prices down to under 300$ a pound for some farmers, and regulatory obstacles favor larger more corporate operators. Mendocino County, which people once hoped that legalization would turn into a Champagne Valley Of Weed, now suffers from falling legal industry participation and government overreach. A cynical, numbers based analyst might look at the downward trends on the graph and declare that the party is over.
However, that’s not exactly the case, and events like the Mendo Cup are a strong example that the rumors of the death of the Emerald Triangle cannabis culture are greatly exaggerated. Coming together to celebrate the best flower the region has to offer and the people who grow and breed it shows that the culture is very much alive even if the economics aren’t looking great at the moment. Join us at this celebration of terroir, community resilience, and the plant that started it all!
Event Details
The Mendo Cup will be on Sunday, May 3rd, at 2:15 PM at the Little Lake Grange, 291 School St, Willits, CA 95490. Tickets are available here, don't count on them being available at the door, get yours before the event! Refreshments will be available onsite. While you're in town, don't forget to grab a meal at one of the delicious local restaurants, go gift shopping, or ride the Skunk Train! There's plenty to do in Willits.
Who’s Competing?
This year, we see previous champions return, familiar contestants take a new shot at the Cup, and new faces eager to show off their best buds!
Precision Farms 707, Major Farms, Sweet Sisters, Perrin Family Farm, Hungry Hollow Farm, Buck N Ham Farms
WildLand Cannabis, First Cut Farms, Mendocino Natural Farms, Laughing Farm, Emerald Spirit Botanicals, Arcanna Flowers
Elk Creek Genetics, Heart Rock Enterprises, Sunbright Gardens, Sun Roots Farm, Mendocino Family Farm, Happy Day Farms
Seed 707, Mendo Mystic, TasteBudz, Elkhorn Ranch, Martyjuana, SoulSol Mendocino
Nurturing Seed, Lost Paradise Organics, Cosmic Forces Farms, Sticky Fields
Who are the Judges?
The Judges panel of the Mendo Cup is made up of a group of highly experienced growers, breeders, and industry veterans who have deep knowledge of the plant and the work that goes into growing and selling these winning strains. Contestants, your bud is in good hands!
Useful Links:
We'll see you at the Cup!
-The Higher Origins Team
Higher Origins is proud to contribute media support to the Mendo Cup- any event that elevates small cannabis farms is something we're glad to be a part of!
