Grower Stories #129: Aya Maria

Tia Moskalenko, author of the AskGrowers blog, brings a unique blend of content to her readers. She is known for conducting insightful interviews with key figures in the cannabis industry, including brand representatives, manufacturers, and experts. In addition to her interview skills, Tia has a keen focus on CBD. She expertly curates product selections and reviews, offering her readers detailed insights into the various effects and benefits of CBD. Tia's ability to combine in-depth interviews with comprehensive CBD analysis makes her a valuable asset to the cannabis community, offering a well-rounded perspective on the industry.

Published

Oct 13 2021

Updated

Nov 19 2023

Interviews

506

4 min

Ayaora Creates Cannabis Products with a Focus on the Plant’s Medicinal Use

Sitting down for a conversation with the AskGrowers team, Aya Maria, co-founder and CEO of Ayaora talks about the brand’s conception and development. She sheds some light on how the company operates, how they run their ‘Seed to Body Conscious Cannabis Movement’, and how they develop all of their products completely by themselves. She also talks about the diversity in the brand and her personal cannabis routine as well as the favorite strains to smoke. #growerstories

Tia (AskGrowers) : How did you start Ayaora?

Aya Maria : We saw a need in our own lives and in our community to make quality cannabis medicine accessible, and we are all connected to the land as farmers, doctors, midwives, and herbalists so we came together to form Ayaora - a Seed to Body Conscious Cannabis Movement.

Tia : How did your relatives react when you decided to go with the cannabis brand?

Aya Maria : We are actually family, so we are each other's relatives.

Tia : What are your greatest strengths? And your weaknesses?

Aya Maria : We are Seed to Body. We don't outsource any part of our process - that's both our strength and our weakness because it means we do all of the work which sometimes isn’t as profitable but being in a coherent relationship is more important to us.

Tia : How can we improve Social Equity in the industry?

Aya Maria : We feel that the only real change will come from living in alignment with our values and creating spaces of education and connection.

Tia : Do you think the cannabis industry players are paying more taxes than others? Do you think it’s fair?

Aya Maria : Probably. It's all a game. We’re focused on living culture, divesting from the “systems” that will never have our or the environment's best interests.

Tia : How do you foster sustainability?

Aya Maria : Everything we do is in alignment with the earth's cycles, from how we operate to how we allocate profits to how we break bread together. What should be sustained? Our answer is wellness, so we do that.

Tia : Do you have any challenges as the Latina representative of the brand?

Aya Maria : No.

Tia : Next month is Hispanic Heritage Month. Are you planning any special initiatives?

Aya Maria : No. We have released our fall collection, we are an ethnically diverse, blended family, we appreciate all of our roots and lineages always - throughout the year.

Tia : Have you faced any prejudices because of the Latin-owned business?

Aya Maria : No.

Tia : How do you think your brand differs from others in the industry?

Aya Maria : Absolutely, there’s no one like us. We also know that there’s enough room for everyone and that people will gravitate toward what resonates with them, so we’re for all who appreciate and are open to receive our offerings.

Tia : As for your cultural heritage, did it help you to bring something special and new to the cannabis industry?

Aya Maria : I mean, we are being authentic in every way which includes our heritage, and to be honest, we never think about the industry. We’re just doing what we love and what makes sense to us.

Tia : What is your personal cannabis consumption routine?

Aya Maria : It’s prayerful and nourishment-based. Infused butters and oils make part of our meals and we create intentional space for reasonings and counsel, together with smokes. We also all have our own individual private relationship with it as a sacrament.

Tia : Your top strains to smoke? Why?

Aya Maria : Jag Berry and Chapa Haze, because they’re our homegrown strains.

Tia : If you could have a chance to smoke with anyone on this planet, who would that be with and why?

Aya Maria : We want to commune with whoever is on our frequency so we can co-create beauty together.

Tia : What are the 3 main trends in growing / (production/marketing) cannabis in 2021 for you now?

Aya Maria : I have no idea how to answer this. We’re just doing what we always do. We’ve been focusing on crafting topicals and ingestibles with the lungs and respiratory health in mind. Soon, there will be a lot more education for women who are pregnant or in the process of womb healing.

Tia : When do you think federal legalization will come?

Aya Maria : Time will tell.

Tia : How can the industry participants help the Latina-owned brands?

Aya Maria : If you want to see us grow, support us.

You can follow Ayaora at:

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Thank you so much, Ayaora team, for taking the time to do the interview. To learn more about them, head on over to their website.