grow and extraction
BEHIND THE SCENES: UNVEILING THE ART AND SCIENCE OF OUR SUPERIOR CANNABINOID EXTRACTS
Step into the heart of NOVA's innovative operation where cutting-edge science meets uncompromising quality. Our quest for the best starts from the very source - the hemp seed genetics, extending through meticulous farming, harvesting, and proprietary cryogenic processing. We take pride in the mastery that goes into producing our cannabinoid extracts - CBD, THC-V, and D8 THC – that are derived from organically and sustainably farmed hemp.
GREAT METHODOLOGY, SCIENCE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCE ARE NEEDED TO HAVE CONSISTENT HIGH-QUALITY CANNABINOID EXTRACTS.
From the genetics of the hemp seeds to farming, harvesting and processing, the entire operation is carefully crafted and orchestrated. It was vital that NOVA find a grower and processor partner with proven methodologies in place, lives by our standards and (no surprise) pushes innovation. As we take you on this journey, remember, that we've earned our stripes.
We get pretty geeked up about it all and want to give you access to the inner workings of how the oils and isolates used in our products are made so you’ll be a superfan, too!
Organically & Sustainably Sourced Hemp
All of our cannabinoids – CBD, THC-V and D8 THC – are derived from organically and sustainably farmed hemp.
Proven Harvesting Methodologies
Our hemp plants are harvested and then processed with a cryogenic processing method that allows for the majority of nutrients (cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids) to remain in the final extract.
Certified Facilities
The cannabinoid lab is an ISO 9001:2015 Certified, food-grade, CGMP compliant, FDA Registered, non-GMO, licensed hemp handler. You can't say you actually have the best to give to NOVA superwomen unless you partner with the best. We wouldn't do you like that. Back to business...strap in.
Full cannabinoid-based vertical integration allows for the ability to run and manage all processes related to producing raw materials; those cannabinoid-based materials that end up in NOVA’s products. All of the growing and processing processes are done under the same “house” so that full compliance and high standards are executed at every step of the operation. The process by which a hemp plant is grown and cannabinoids extracted from the hemp plant is crucial to determining how pure, or potent, the final oil will be. Therefore, it is preferred that those we partner with are fully integrated – to ensure quality and potency from the planting to the processing.
Vertical integration also gives NOVA full traceability all the way back to the farm that grew the hemp used in our products. This means that we know where the cannabinoids used in our products have been at every touchpoint. We love transparency and accountability – and you should expect those qualities from us and all of our partners. This partnership affords us the transparency we require to have a full view inside the operation to stand firmly on the quality of extracts used in our products.
The process by which a hemp plant is grown, and cannabinoids extracted from the hemp plant is crucial to determining how pure, or potent, the final oil will be. Therefore, it is preferred that those we partner with are fully integrated – to ensure quality and potency from the planting to the processing.
Our partner works with local farmers who have been farming in Central Oregon for generations. They understand the principles of sustainable farming, such as crop rotation and using cover crops to regenerate the soil. This arrangement ensures the health of the nutrient-rich soil that is critical to producing high-quality organic hemp year after year. In general, hemp is widely viewed as a sustainable crop because of the plant’s deep roots and ability to keep carbon molecules in the soil. Once the plants have reached their peak (check out the testing procedures below), they are harvested and dried to get ready for processing.
The first step in processing hemp is to extract all the good stuff from the plant. NOVA found the most natural yet innovative way to do this. Here's a quick look at what the process entails to get the distillate used in Breakthrough, our CBD drink mix.
STEP 1:
Extract cannabinoids from the hemp plant through a PROPRIETARY CRYOGENIC EXTRACTION METHODOLOGY
STEP 2:
This method allows the specific targeting of only the valuable components of the hemp plant, leaving behind undesirable water-soluble elements.
STEP 3:
The result is crude oil. This is refined at least one more time through distillation.
STEP 4:
Ultra-high-quality crude is sent through a custom-designed and formulated short-path distillation system.
STEP 5:
This method enhances potency and clarity, producing a honey-colored, broad-spectrum distillate.
STEP 6:
The distillate is sent through a PROPRIETARY THC REMOVAL PROCESS to ensure compliance with federal and NSF-S regulations. (Breakthrough is not yet NSF-S certified, yet.)
Testing: All Ingredients
In the NOVA galaxy, we don’t just test our final products, we ensure that testing is completed and passed at every step starting with the seeds. (Side note: Every individual ingredient is tested multiple times, too, not just our hemp!)
1.
Seeds are tested rigorously (genetics, potencies and the like) to ensure that only the finest hemp is grown.
2.
After seed testing, quality control takes place during the growing process to monitor and ensure that the plants have high levels of cannabinoids and are compliant with all regulations for contaminants, heavy metals, and pesticides.
3.
Once harvesting is complete, the final cannabinoid levels are tested to verify the potency and testing is done to confirm the material is contaminant-free (aka no reg flags).
4.
After extracting the cannabinoid oil from the flower using ultralow-temperature ethanol, it is tested again before distilling it and testing it once more after the distillation process.
5.
The distillate is then packaged and ready to be formulated into our Breakthrough product with D-ribose as the carrier plus DehydraTECH™ technology. This CBD distillate formulation is tested again to verify accurate formulation and adherence to product specifications before making its way into the final mix of Breakthrough.
6.
The same process occurs with our Lift Off product once the distillate is processed into D8 THC and THC-V is isolated. Both the D8 and THC-V are tested prior to formulation. The THC-V is attached to baker's sugar to infuse the technology, and accordingly, it gets an extra test before being measured and distributed into the final gummy formula.
“All of our cannabinoid extracts are tested a minimum of five times – throughout their “lifespan” of seed to formulated oil – before they make it into final NOVA product formulations.”
We provide this exact degree of detail to ensure transparency and traceability, and to give you confidence and trust in our entire process, not just the final products.
- Before we start the final manufacturing process, each ingredient supplier (like PeakO2®, Rhodiolife®, DehydraTECH™) must provide full certifications and testing results on the exact ingredient batch they send us.
- Then, we test each ingredient compound as soon as it arrives at the manufacturing facility. The compound stays in a quarantine space until the testing is complete to ensure that what is brought into the multi-certified facility is 100% clean and contains the legitimate, exact potencies. That is just part of what true cGMP looks like; there are many quality control steps because you wouldn’t expect anything less.
- Once the final products are finished, we send them to a third-party lab to undergo cannabinoid and pesticide testing.
Want to see what the manufacturing process of Breakthrough is like?