Inside Our Small-Batch Process: 8 Years of Handcrafting Hemp

"Small batch" is one of those phrases that gets used so loosely it sometimes means nothing. Big national brands slap it on labels. Marketing teams put it in copy. After a while, the customer hears it as filler.

For us, it means something specific. This post is the inside view of what small batch looks like at Urban Roots after 8 years.

What "Small Batch" Means in Practice

For us:

• Our typical production run is measured in hundreds of bottles, not tens of thousands
• Every batch gets individually third-party lab tested before it's released
• Formulations are reviewed regularly, refined when feedback warrants it
• The same small team that designs the formula is involved in mixing it

The trade-off is scale. We don't drop-ship from a mass-production facility. We can't fulfill a 100,000-unit retailer order overnight. We're not trying to.

The Process

1. Formulation

This is where the recipe lives. Each formulation specifies the cannabinoid profile (full spectrum vs isolate), carrier oil (typically MCT coconut oil), any complementary botanicals, and target potency. We don't change formulations frequently — when we do, it's because feedback or improved sourcing warrants it.

2. Sourcing

We source hemp extract from vetted agricultural partners. Every batch comes with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from the supplier specifying cannabinoid profile, terpene content, and contaminant screens. We don't skip this step.

3. Mixing

Small-batch mixing happens in our Michigan facility. Hemp extract is blended with carrier oil and any additional ingredients per the formulation. Temperature, mixing time, and order of addition all matter — we've refined these over 8 years.

4. Internal QC

Visual inspection, viscosity check, color check, scent check. Catching anomalies here saves customer experience downstream.

5. Third-Party Lab Testing

This is the step we don't compromise on. Every batch goes to an independent lab for analysis. The COA documents:

• CBD content (verifying potency claims)
• THC content (under 0.3% federally legal threshold)
• Other cannabinoids (CBG, CBN, etc. for full-spectrum products)
• Pesticide screens
• Heavy metal screens
• Microbial screens

COAs are published on our Lab Results page. You can match the batch number on your bottle to the COA.

6. Bottling and Labeling

Filled, capped, labeled, and packaged. Each label specifies batch number, manufacture date, and expiration date.

7. Distribution

Direct to customer via the Urban Roots site, or to retail partners through our wholesale program. Most orders ship same or next business day.

Why It's Worth the Trade-Off

Big national brands have advantages we don't — economies of scale, distribution muscle, ad budgets. We have one thing they don't: consistent craft over 8 years.

The pattern we see in CBD: brands launch big with VC backing, dominate for a couple years, get acquired, change formulations to cut cost, and quietly fade. Customers notice. Customers leave. The Cannabis Cup-winning topical from 2019 doesn't exist at the same brand 5 years later.

Our Face Moisturizer from 2018 still uses the same formula. Our Freeze Cream from 2019 still uses the same formula. We don't change for the sake of changing.

Awards and Independent Validation

20+ awards across our 8 years, including:

• 3rd Place Best CBD Topical, High Times Cannabis Cup 2018 (Face Moisturizer)
• 3rd Place Best CBD Topical, High Times Cannabis Cup 2019 (Freeze Cream)
• Multiple regional and industry-specific placements

The full story is on our Cannabis Cup wins post.

What's Next

The same. We don't have plans to abandon the small-batch model. We have growth plans — more retailers, more visibility, more product education — but the core craft model stays.

FAQ

How big is your production team?
Small. We're not a giant operation, and we like it that way.

Where can I see your lab results?
Lab Results page — every batch, downloadable COA.

Do you ever change formulations?
Rarely, and only when sourcing improvements or refinements clearly help. Our flagship products use the same award-winning formulas they did at launch.

Are you available wholesale?
Yes — see our wholesale page or email sales@urbanrootscbd.com.

Bottom Line

Small batch isn't marketing for us. It's how we work, and it's why our 8-year-old brand still has the same products our earliest customers fell in love with. Browse the full catalog or read our About page.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About Urban Roots Hemp Co. Urban Roots is an award-winning Michigan CBD brand in business since 2018. Our parent brand and our sister brands Kozmic Gardens (CBD edibles) and Arbor & Shore (CBD topicals) have earned multiple High Times Cannabis Cup wins — including 1st Place finishes in CBD Edibles and CBD Pre-Rolls (2018-2019) and Arbor & Shore Roll-On CBD Oil, plus 2nd and 3rd Place placements for our Body Butter, Freeze Cream, and Face Moisturizer. Every batch is third-party lab tested — see Lab Results. Browse the Urban Roots catalog or read our About page.