LA Family Farms’ Orange Drip takes Zalympix top honors; Barney’s Farm moves to Cali
Plus Wizard Trees’ Zangbanger bangs out; Black Friday’s biggest deals
BY DAVID DOWNS | Nov. 19 | SAN FRANCISCO
Good morning, Fire Followers,
I’m writing from Cafe Greco on Broadway Ave in North Beach on a stunning Tuesday afternoon. It’s crisp and clear and the cable cars are running. Old timers are arguing politics and tourists are bopping around. Coit Tower gleams like a beacon. … We trimmed up four huge jars of TK GMO over the weekend, and we have about 20 jars to go; LOL.
In this week’s newsletter:
Zalympix Champion’s Flight delivers California’s best
Black Friday seed sales warm up
Top terps of Terpnami SF seed show snap into focus
As always, the first hit is free, then I’ll see you in the Pro version for $5 per issue.
ZALYMPIX CHAMPIONS FLIGHT WINNERS ARRIVE: The biggest weed city on the planet, in the world’s top source state, announced its top flowers on Nov. 15 at a private ceremony in Hollywood. The Zalympix Champion’s Flight awards ceremony handed out accolades in several categories, based on votes from judge’s kit buyers, as well as an industry panel. Here’s the slate.
Best overall (based on public voting from judges kit buyers)
1st place - LA Family Farms with Orange Drip (a win for orange terps)
2nd place - Wizard Trees with Zangbanger (a win for Z x OG)
3rd place - Angel City with Giraffe Puzzy (a win for advanced Gelato work)
Industry Awards (based on an industry panel)
Best overall - Wizard Trees - Zangbanger
Best tasting - LA Family Farms - Orange Drip
Best terps - LA Family Farms - Orange Drip
Best candy - Poundcakes Farm - Dubble Bubble
Bezt Z / Z Hybrid - Preferred Gardens - Kamikaze
Gassiest Flower - Greendawg - Dawg Walker OG
Most Unique - Wizard Trees - Zangbanger
We have more analysis in Fire Follower PRO.
BLACK FRIDAY DEALS HEAT UP: The entire seed sector is prepping for Black Friday and deals are starting early. The biggest is probably Neptune Seed Bank, offering 75% off some selections. Bloom Seed Co has some really special drops, too. More analysis in Fire Follower PRO.
BARNEY’S FARM RELOCATES TO CALI: In a coup for the West Coast, European icon Barney’s Farm has moved the company to the West Coast, establishing “new headquarters and operational control in Northern California.” Welcome! Enjoy the weather!
TOP TERPS OF TERPNAMI SF: High Times has published my ‘Top Terps of Terpnami’ article, which provides a good roadmap of flavors dropping Dec. 6-7 in SF. The Press Club blog has my deep dive into the top hashers of Terpnami.
TOP 50 BREEDERS OF 2025 POLL: Our ‘Top 50 Greatest Breeders of 2025’ Poll has passed 2,600 respondents. Fast Buds keeps turning out their auto army. Here’s the top 50 raw votes, and votes adjusted for Fast Buds’ single-vote army. When you filter the results for the Top 20 from ‘full ballot voters’ who used all 10 of their votes—a pretty nice picture emerges. Overall, I’m meeting my goal of highlighting dope breeders, and learning about new ones. (People have used the write-in option to vote for over 400 different breeders!) The poll closes Dec. 1.
I’ll publish the (anonymized) raw data, as well as raw and adjusted vote tallies, and different analyses in December. For example, I’ll break out top winners from European companies versus California boutique breeders, and give out more accolades. I think we all have a lot to learn from each other. Just try to have fun with it.
3 TOP SEED DROPS
Cannarado has released the Butterscotch Banana Box Set for $1,000. Featuring all 14 crosses of Butterscotch Banana and exclusive freebies. It’s Rado’s world we just play in it.
Huckleberry Hill Farms dropped another batch of fire including Paradise Pine ($150 for 10 fems), and more outdoor early finishers like Mulberry Punch, and Paradise Surprise.
Symbiotic Genetics released Pink and Yellow (Pink Panties x Amarelo #9). $75 for 6 fems.
See all the top drops in Fire Follower PRO ($5 per issue).
Reminders
Tickets remain $5 for the Terpnami seed show Dec. 6-7 in SF. The Show Program is live. The Terpnami magazine is $15. We’re going to have a 2nd-ever Moon Valley 6-star full-melt hash drop party Friday, Dec. 5 at Moe Greens as the pre-party for Terpnami. RSVP to get the pre-order form.
Look for Fire Follower syndicated in print editions of Leaf Magazine all around the country.
Read my ride-along with Humboldt Seed Co as they hunt for hashers; published in Hiii Magazine.
TOP BUD SHOT OF THE WEEK
In this week’s Fire Follower Pro for $5
More top seed drops from Masonic Seed Co, Seed Junky Genetics, Umami Seed Co, Katsu Seeds, Walipini and Tiki Madman
Where to get cool clones of Rainbow Push Pop, Warheadz, Blue Lobster, Lemon Cherry Runtz, Blue Zushi, and more.
Essential buys from Top Dawg Seeds, Capulator, Bloom Seed Co, Solfire, Lempire Farmaseed, The Gardens, Blockhead, DNA Genetics, Humboldt CSI, The Cali Connection, Clearwater Genetics, Deep Ellum Seed Co, and Humboldt Seed Co.
Access to back-issues of Fire Follower Pro, featuring dozens more stellar additions for your grow.
Genetics and awards Event Calendar
Fire Follower saves you over 100 hours per year keeping up with genetics news, and you never miss a big drop. It’s for commercial breeders, growers, store buyers, PR people, executives, and pro-am aficionados. Buy this week’s issue for $5. Subscribe to 52 issues and save 30%. (I email you the full genetics intelligence report when you pay.)
I’ll see you in the Pro edition.
Fire Follower is reader-funded, and brought to you in part by Neptune Seed Bank. The best cannabis seed bank in the US. Best selection of breeders and strains. Start your next grow with some seeds from Neptune Seed Bank.
Send feedback, tips, news, corrections, and clarifications to daviddownspresents@pm.me