In this episode we share our discussion with Emma Merritt, Director of Product Development for Kria Botanicals. Before joining the team at Kria, Emma was a staff herbalist and product formulator at Railyard Apothecary, a worker-owned, herbal co-operative based in Burlington, VT. Bridget and Emma discuss Kria’s position in the industry as a contract manufacturer for both CBD & THC brands and how Emma’s background as an herbalist, informs her work.

Links:
https://kriabotanicals.com/
https://www.railyardapothecary.com/
https://vtherbcenter.org/
https://thrive.kaiserpermanente.org/thrive-together/live-well/forest-bathing-try

Show Notes:

2:08 Emma’s philosophical approach to herbalism

6:44 Hemp being welcomed into the complete herbal apothecary

9:29 Emma’s introduction to Kria

12:22 Tinctures vs sublingual oils

15:37 Overview of Kria’s contract services

17:09 Overview of extracts that can be used in product formulation 

21:20 Potential benefits of live rosin

26:16 Creating different cannabinoid ratios in an infused product

28:40 Formulating with acidic cannabinoids

32:55 Contract services that are currently in demand 

36:00 Providing differentiation in a crowded gummie market

38:16 Botanicals that work well in cannabis formulation 

40:58 Kria’s focus in 2023

42:27 Examples from Emma’s selfcare routine