Destigmatizing + Understanding White Label Seeds
By Beth Mathieu
What is BWL Bulk/White Label?
BWL is an abbreviation that we use at North Atlantic Seed for Bulk/White Label, and it is how we source our own “house” seed menus: NASC BWL, Private Label, and Commercial Cultivars. White Label is a term that is commonly used among wholesalers, distributors and seedbanks within the cannabis seed industry and beyond, and all it really means is that the seeds were purchased from farmers under the pretense that we could sell them using our own brand and our own name: North Atlantic Seed Co.
Unfortunately, BWL has gotten quite the bad rep in forums and threads online, and that’s why we have always chosen to highlight “BWL” as transparently as we have: 1. We want growers to understand that we did not breed these seeds ourselves. Hopefully, this helps them make an educated decision about who they source their genetics from. 2. We want to destigmatize White Label seeds. Below, I am going to discuss why I think this topic is so important for every grower to understand.
Are BWL Seeds Bad?
Our perspective–as people who understand this industry quite well–is that BWL seeds can be just as great and just as terrible as any other seed. Shocking, right?
What matters is the intent and the breeding practices of the farmer who made the seeds. Like any industry, there are seed mills out there churning out millions of seeds a month purely for the profit; these businesses probably don’t have the grower’s best interests at heart. Conversely, there are craft operators that put a great deal of heart, care, time, and expertise into their breeds. Both types of farmer can supply BWL seeds, so sourcing is really what becomes important, and that is guided by our values as a business, and your values as a grower.
Agriculture and farming is an industry where it’s hard to make a good living nowadays. As farmers and breeders ourselves, we have lived this struggle, and we have no shame in supporting breeders who are creating and refining high-demand genetics for others to brand and sell.
There are many breeders in our community who are incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about genetics, but they have no interest in all of the other things that come along with running a front-facing business: They don’t want to sit behind a computer all day, or work on marketing campaigns, or become beholdent to social media. They want to be in their gardens. And yet that is the business of seeds; more and more, that is what it takes. For these types of breeders and farmers, White Labeling seeds gives them an opportunity to make a living doing what they love without having to be a great business-person at the same time.
For this reason, we are not ashamed at all to source White Label genetics for our house brand, but in large part, that’s because we do our due diligence. We are intentional about the breeders we support and rely on in this way because we care about your experience as growers.
Where Does NASC Source BWL Seeds From?
At North Atlantic Seed, we are always trying to improve and refine the seed menus we are offering to our growers. And I’m not just saying that. We care so much about getting this right, and we recognize that this is what builds trust and integrity.
If you’ve been watching closely over the years, you might have noticed that the North Atlantic Seed BWL menu has undergone frequent changes. While we don’t have the ability to grow out every single strain ourselves, we try to grow out as many as we can, and we listen closely to what our customers are telling us about their experience with these seeds. We have turned our menus over many times, and we have tried the same strains from many different breeders. We are always whittling away, trying to make our BWL menu better. This is a process that will never stop because genetics will never stop evolving and getting better.
What we want you to know and hear is that NASC sources genetics from the breeders you already know and trust, as well as from other farmers who you might never know, but who deserve to have their genetics grown just as much as the next person. These are people who are doing good work and they are good people.
Ultimately, we understand that people are going to have opinions about breeders, genetics, White Label seeds, and virtually everything else. Have it. But we want to set the record straight as far as NASC’s relationship with White Label goes: A lot of the derogatory commentary we see tossed around online is so off the mark from the reality of the industry, and it gives people a bad taste about something that is very misunderstood. Yes, there are bad actors out there, but my hope is that our growing community is aware that there are a lot of good actors too, so let’s not stigmatize this category of seeds as a whole. That only serves to hurt the breeders and farmers who are doing hard work and trying to make an honest living just like you and I.
-Beth
Explore the North Atlantic Seed BWL Strains!
Products by Category
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Apple Fritter Auto
Price range: $10.25 through $142.87 -
Apple Gas Breath (F)
Price range: $10.25 through $142.87 -
Apples and Bananas (F)
Price range: $10.25 through $142.87 -
Apples and Bananas Auto
Price range: $10.25 through $142.87 -
Banana Kush (F)
Price range: $10.25 through $142.87 -
Big Bud Auto
Price range: $10.25 through $142.87 -
Black + White Auto (R)
$60.00 -
Black Cherry Punch Auto
Price range: $10.25 through $142.87 -
Black Cherry Soda (F)
Price range: $10.25 through $142.87
HAPPY GROWING!
