Introducing CAN…
a worker-owned cooperative, community organizer, think tank, research hub, and cooperative business developer working to transform the economy for craft cannabis in the Emerald Triangle.
Our Purpose
The purpose of the Cooperative Agriculture Network is to unite local stakeholders in cannabis production in the Emerald Triangle to develop and implement community-driven cooperative solutions that promote equitable resource distribution, local reinvestment, multigenerational land stewardship, and the prosperity of our rural communities.
Saturday, March 29, 2025
(the day after the CalPoly Humboldt Cannabis and Environmental Stewardship Symposium)
In-person at Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata CA
(hybrid online participation available)
No-Cost to Participants
Generously funded by Resource Legacy Fund
CAN Strategic Doing Convening
Creating Actionable Projects
for Our Agricultural Future
With Dr. Scott Hucheson
co-author of “Strategic Doing”
In partership with the CalPoly Humboldt Cannabis
and Environmental Stewardship Symposium
Turning Ideas Into Action for Humboldt County Agriculture
Imagine the Emerald Triangle craft cannabis supply chain joining forces to build something so strong and so connected that our products resist corporate consolidation and successfully capitalize on our worldwide reputation. What would that look like?
The CAN Strategic Doing Convening is a half-day, in-person event designed to bring together farmers, advocates, and industry leaders from across cannabis production. Together, we’ll tackle the unique challenges and opportunities facing the Emerald Triangle by collaboratively creating actionable projects that make an immediate impact.
After the Convening, we will continue our collaborations using an ongoing Strategic Doing process in month-long cycles.
CAN Academy
The Cooperative Agriculture Network runs an annual Cooperative Academy to provide you with training, resources and mentorship for effective cooperation, whether you’re cooperating with your neighbors, starting a multi-farm co-op, or contributing to the industry-wide initiative.
The 3rd annual Cooperative Academy concluded April 2, 2024. The 4th annual Academy will take place in the Spring of 2025. The theme will be tools for multi-stakeholder collaboration.
We’ll Help You Start a Cooperative or Collaborative
If you want to start or improve a cooperative or collaborative project and you want to sit down with a CAN advisor who will support you every step of the way, email us for a connection.
What Co-ops CAN Do For You
Our Research
SURVEY 2023-4
The research analysis revealed a broad consensus on the benefits of cooperative efforts, concerns about redundant, expensive, and complex regulations, and a common theme advocating for streamlined, consolidated regulations, cooperative incentives for water conservation, improved trust between farmers and agencies, enhanced inter-agency collaboration, and the equitable treatment of cannabis as any other agricultural crop.
SURVEY 2021-2
From August 6 to September 12, 2021 we conducted a survey to cannabis cultivators on the North Coast of California. A significant 82 responses from cannabis operators came in, allowing for robust data to analyze. Compiled by the Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy (CASP) a federal 501c3 education nonprofit, the survey findings represent the first phase of a research project studying the efforts of Cooperation Humboldt to understand what services would be of value to cannabis farmers. READ OUR REPORT HERE.
INTERVIEWS
In Phase 2, twenty-eight participants were contacted for follow-up discussions. What comes out of this study is that cannabis on the North Coast is about much more than just farming an agricultural product, it’s also a way of life: sharing genetics and resources, participating in the community and growing food and vegetables along with cannabis. The research shows that this is an essential factor for success. READ OUR FINDINGS HERE.
Cooperative Solutions for Small Legacy Cannabis Growers in Humboldt, California: A Policy Report by Emma Karnes
This report is prepared for the Cooperative Cannabis Economy Group (CCEG), a joint project of Cooperation Humboldt and the Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy (CASP). It addresses the problem that small, legacy cannabis growers in Humboldt California—growers who were cultivating cannabis in the region prior to the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2016 and who cultivate 10,000 square feet or less of land—are systematically disincentivized and disempowered from successfully entering and thriving in the developing legal market. READ THE REPORT HERE.
Our Blog
Meet Our Worker-Owners
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Shawn Cherry
Shawn (he/him) is co-owner operator of Cherry Valley Farms and co-founder of the Salmon Creek Legacy Farms cooperative.
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Indy Riggs
Indy (he/him) is the owner of Galactic Farms in Stafford, CA and a Board Member for Humboldt County Growers Allaince.
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Nicole Riggs
Nicole (she/her) is the executive director of the Humboldt Area Peoples Archive, founder of Manifesto Synergies, Affiliate Researcher with the Center for the Study of Cannabis and Social Policy, and board director with the Humboldt Community Business Development Center.
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Cara Cordoni
Cara (she/her) is a Leadership Coach who works with women entrepreneurs and leaders at all levels. She is a Cooperative Developer and a the original visionary behind the CAN project.
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Tobin McKee
Tobin (they/them) is a Cooperative Business Developer and Facilitation Trainer, a member at Santa Rosa Creek Commons Housing Co-op, a worker-owner at Full Cycle Compost.and a worker-director Bienestar Collective..