The Post Harvest Technician operates at the most critical transition point in the cannabis value chain. This individual executes the precise, science-based processes required to dry, cure, trim, and prepare harvested cannabis for its final use, whether as packaged flower or as input material for extraction. The role is a disciplined blend of agricultural science, process manufacturing, and strict regulatory compliance. A Post Harvest Technician's commitment to following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) directly safeguards the asset value of the harvest. Their actions prevent catastrophic losses from mold, moisture, and contamination. Furthermore, their meticulous processing preserves the delicate cannabinoid and terpene profiles that determine the final product's quality, market price, and therapeutic efficacy. This position is the guardian of the harvest's potential, ensuring that the genetic and cultivation efforts translate into a consistent, safe, and valuable final product. Success demands an unwavering focus on safety, inspection, and inventory control within a highly regulated framework.
The workday begins with a pre-operational inspection of the processing environment. The technician verifies that all surfaces, tools, and equipment in the receiving bay are sanitized according to SOPs to prevent cross-contamination from previous batches. They calibrate the certified scales that will be used for official inventory weigh-ins. The first major task is receiving a fresh harvest lot from the cultivation department. The technician dons personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves and scrubs. Each plant is meticulously logged, and a unique batch ID is created within the state's seed-to-sale tracking software, such as METRC or BioTrack. The initial wet weight of the entire batch is recorded, a critical data point for tracking moisture loss and ensuring compliance. This first step of inventory creation is foundational; any error here creates significant compliance issues downstream.
Next, the focus shifts to the drying room. The technician carefully hangs individual plants or branches on sanitized racks, ensuring adequate spacing for uniform airflow. This spacing is critical to prevent the formation of microclimates where mold, like Botrytis cinerea (gray mold), can thrive and destroy the entire crop. They then verify the environmental control system is maintaining the precise parameters outlined in the SOP, typically a temperature of 60-70°F and humidity of 45-55%. The technician documents these readings in the batch record. Throughout the day, they will conduct regular inspections of the drying product, physically checking for any signs of mold, pests, or other contaminants. This commitment to constant inspection is a core function of the role.
Midday operations involve processing material that has completed its initial drying phase. This involves the 'bucking' process, which is the removal of the flowers from the stems and branches. This can be done by hand for premium flower or with specialized machinery for biomass destined for extraction. Safety protocols are paramount here, with technicians ensuring all machine guards are in place and following lockout/tagout procedures during cleaning. After bucking, the material is weighed again, and this 'bucked weight' is logged into the inventory system. The material is then moved into airtight containers for the curing phase. The technician is responsible for 'burping' these containers on a set schedule, opening them for a short period to release excess moisture and gases. They use a moisture meter to test the product, aiming for a specific water activity level to ensure shelf stability and optimal quality.
The afternoon may be dedicated to trimming. For high-end flower products, this is a meticulous hand-trimming process where technicians carefully remove excess leaves to improve the product's appearance and smokability. For products intended for extraction, the process may involve automated trimming machines. The technician is responsible for operating, monitoring, and cleaning this equipment. Throughout the trimming process, all waste material, including stems and leaves, is collected, weighed, and logged as 'cannabis waste' in the tracking system. The final trimmed flower is weighed one last time, representing the 'final saleable weight'. This data is entered into the system, and the product is prepared for quality assurance testing or packaging. The day concludes with a final reconciliation of all weights for every batch processed, ensuring that the physical inventory matches the digital records in the compliance software to the gram. The work area is then thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, preparing it for the next day's processing commitment.
The Post Harvest Technician's duties are categorized into three primary domains that ensure product value and regulatory compliance:
The Post Harvest Technician directly influences key business performance metrics through the following mechanisms:
| Impact Area | Strategic Influence |
|---|---|
| Cash | Prevents catastrophic loss of harvested biomass, a primary asset, by mitigating risks of mold, pests, and improper curing which would otherwise result in total write-offs. |
| Profits | Directly determines the quality grade of the final product. Proper processing increases the percentage of biomass qualifying for high-margin premium flower or high-yield extraction, boosting revenue per gram. |
| Assets | Ensures the proper use, cleaning, and maintenance of expensive post-harvest equipment, such as automated trimmers and environmental control systems, extending their operational lifespan. |
| Growth | Creates a consistent and predictable supply of quality-controlled biomass, which is essential for the manufacturing and extraction departments to scale production and launch new product lines. |
| People | Adheres to workplace safety protocols related to ergonomics (trimming) and machine operation, reducing the frequency of worker compensation claims and fostering a culture of safety and commitment. |
| Products | Acts as the final gatekeeper of raw material quality. The technician's inspection and processing steps are fundamental to ensuring the final consumer product is free of contaminants and meets brand standards. |
| Legal Exposure | Mitigates legal risk by maintaining an unbroken and accurate chain of custody in the seed-to-sale system, which is a primary defense against accusations of inventory diversion. |
| Compliance | Executes the physical tasks that must align perfectly with digital records. This role is where compliance theory becomes operational practice, ensuring every gram is accounted for as per state law. |
| Regulatory | Generates the accurate, real-time data that populates mandatory reports for state cannabis control boards. The integrity of this data is essential for maintaining the facility's license in good standing. |
Reports To: This position typically reports to the Post Harvest Manager or, in smaller organizations, the Director of Cultivation.
Similar Roles: This role shares core competencies with positions like Food Production Technician, Agricultural Processing Worker, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Associate, or Cellar Worker in a winery. These roles all demand strict adherence to process, sanitation protocols, quality inspection, and meticulous record-keeping for a perishable, high-value product. Professionals with experience in any regulated production environment that involves handling raw organic materials will find the skillsets directly applicable.
Works Closely With: This position is a critical link between several departments. The technician works closely with the Cultivation Manager to coordinate harvest schedules, the Extraction Manager to supply quality-verified biomass, and the Compliance Manager to ensure all inventory data is accurate and auditable.
Proficiency with specific technologies is central to performing this role effectively:
Success in this role is built on foundational skills from other process-oriented industries:
The role demands specific professional attributes:
These organizations create the rules and standards that directly shape the daily tasks of a Post Harvest Technician:
| Acronym/Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Biomass | The raw, harvested plant material, including flowers, leaves, and stems, before it is processed into a final product. |
| cGMP | Current Good Manufacturing Practices. A system of regulations from the FDA to ensure products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. |
| COA | Certificate of Analysis. A lab report that confirms a product meets its specifications, including potency and purity tests for contaminants. |
| METRC | Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance. A common seed-to-sale software platform used by state regulators. |
| PPE | Personal Protective Equipment. Items such as gloves, scrubs, hairnets, and safety glasses used to protect both the worker and the product. |
| QA/QC | Quality Assurance / Quality Control. The processes and procedures designed to ensure product quality and consistency. |
| S2S | Seed-to-Sale. The term for the tracking system that logs every stage of a cannabis plant's life, from planting to its final sale. |
| SOP | Standard Operating Procedure. A set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out complex routine operations. |
| Terpenes | Volatile aromatic compounds found in cannabis that contribute to its scent and flavor. They are delicate and can be lost through improper drying or curing. |
| Water Activity (aW) | A measure of the available water in a substance. It is a more accurate predictor of microbial growth than simple moisture content and is a critical metric in curing. |
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