Inside Award-winning Kiva Confections: Kristi Palmer’s Vision for Consistency and Creativity in Edibles.
Kristi Palmer, Co-Founder and President of Kiva Confections, stands as a true trailblazer in the edibles industry. Kiva is widely recognized as the global leader in cannabis- and hemp-infused edibles. The brand truly offers something for everyone with award-winning Camino and Lost Farm gummies and fruit chews, Petra mints, Terra chocolate bites, and Kiva chocolate bars. Born in 2010, Kiva's products are the most trusted, recommended, and sought-after edibles available today, with loyal customers in 36+ states across the U.S.
Palmer’s passion for creating a healthy regulatory environment for the industry led to serving on the boards of several cannabis trade organizations, including nine years on the Board and a term as President for CCIA (CA Cannabis Industry Assoc.), and as a founding Board member of CCMA (CA Cannabis Manufacturer’s Assoc.). In this interview, we dive into the story of Kiva's humble beginnings, the flavors that fuel her passion, and her thoughts on how cannabis can transform perceptions—even those of a certain former First Lady. Buckle up for this sweet and inspiring ride as we ask Kristi five questions about life, legacy, and, of course, edibles.
High Herstory: Can you tell us the story of how you became the founder of one of the top cannabis edible brands in the U.S.?
Kristi Palmer: My husband Scott and I just graduated from photography school and were having trouble getting our careers off the ground when the recession hit. Living in the Bay Area in California, we were aware of the shifting views on cannabis, saw that it was more accessible than ever, and felt it could be an exciting space to be in. It was definitely risky, but at the same time we had nothing to lose. Our first venture was a small cannabis grow in the backyard of my childhood home. It didn’t last long but it did give us an appreciation for the art of growing and introduced us to the industry as well as the many shops that we would end up building long-term relationships with. Everyone we met was passionate, knowledgeable and really cared about the plant and those who used it. It was in visiting these dispensaries that we realized there was a huge opportunity for edibles innovation.
We knew if we could create delicious, consistent, and beautifully-branded edibles that we could enjoy ourselves and share with our friends, they would be a huge hit for everyone. That’s when we began developing the Kiva brand and started making chocolate in our home kitchen. That was 15 years ago. Fast forward to today and we have a house of brands that include those original Kiva chocolate bars, our beloved Camino gummies and chews, Lost Farm gummies and chews, Terra bites and Petra mints. Earlier this year, we expanded our Camino product line to include hemp-derived gummies available through an e-commerce site and in retail stores in some states where it’s legal. Our products are available legally in 36+ markets and we continue to expand.
HH: We know how passionate you are about edibles being as delicious as they are functional. What’s your personal favorite flavor at Kiva?
KP: That’s like asking which child is my favorite! Peppermint bark is one of Scott and my favorite chocolate treats and while we don’t have it every year, when we do make the Kiva Peppermint Bark Dark Chocolate bars (only 100 mg per bar), they are my favorite.
KP (con’t): Everything we do at Kiva is intentional and must exist to solve a problem for the consumer; to capture a new use case or help them create a new experience. From flavors to format to effects, every one of our brands and products were created for a different type of cannabis consumer but my personal favorite are the chocolate bars because that’s how we started. In our early days we used to make peppermint bark. We were naive but feeling adventurous, and we hand slabbed peppermint bark to give to our retail customers and budtenders as a thank you. It took us absolutely forever, but it came out beautifully. This was back in medical times, and the bark was equal in strength to our 180 mg THC bars. It became infamous as it was irresistibly delicious but also punishingly strong for those who weren’t expecting such a high dose. Peppermint bark is one of Scott and my favorite chocolate treats and while we don’t have it every year, when we do make the Kiva Peppermint Bark Dark Chocolate bars (only 100 mg per bar), they are my favorite.
HH: Kiva's known for innovation. If you could collaborate with any historical figure to create a new cannabis product, who would it be and what wild concoction would you whip up?
KP: Nancy Regan. Hear me out. I truly believe in edibles as a way to warm people up to cannabis, so much so that I think that given the chance, they might even make some headway with this infamous anti-cannabis figure. That could in turn have had an impact on the degree in which our society demonized cannabis and the people who used it. We are stuck facing the disastrous consequences of the War on Drugs, and I just can’t help but wonder if sitting across the table from Nancy for a few hours creating, talking and tasting, that maybe she could have been swayed. We would make a micro dosed, chocolate covered fresh strawberry to enjoy right there in the moment.
HH: You've mentioned the importance of consistency in edibles. Do you have an "oops" story from the days before precise dosing was a thing?
KP: Leading up to our first trade show, we had to make as many chocolate bars as we could for inventory but we didn’t have proper equipment to make the quantity we needed. One step in the process requires that you cook off the ethanol and you have to stir it all day long. So we came up with a contraption… if you put it under a vacuum, it lowers the temperature to speed up the process. Under a major time crunch, we waited for magic to happen but it imploded and extraction got all over the kitchen, and all over Scott. We had to save it because it was all we had, so we salvaged it but consistency, potency and precise dosing was a differentiator for us and what we built our reputation on, so we knew we had to re-test it and we ran a sample to the lab right before it closed. On the way back, Scott got pulled over by a cop for a traffic issue. Not knowing what he had in the car, the cop thankfully let him go. We made the deadline and ended up bringing in $5,000 in cash at our first trade show in 2011, only five weeks after the launch of Kiva. We could have cut corners at every step of the process to make our lives easier but we did everything by the book and believe that’s how we got to where we are today - hard work, grit, commitment to innovation, quality, consistency and always acting with integrity.
HH: As a trailblazer in the cannabis industry, what advice would you give to entrepreneurs interested in a career in cannabis?
KP: It is a small industry with many people who have been fighting for access long before Scott and I started Kiva. I would say to any entrepreneur entering cannabis, do your research, learn the regulations and nuances, and build a strong network around you and the company. With every new state we enter, we have a new ecosystem of partners and retailers we have to build and nurture which takes time and resources but is essential to growth. The last piece of advice: be patient. While we’re optimistic about the future, we’re all still waiting on federal legalization, rescheduling, SAFER banking or some movement on one or all of those fronts.
Kristi Palmer’s success with Kiva is proof that the best ideas are born when creativity meets thoughtfulness. Whether you’re savoring one of Kiva’s delectable creations or dreaming of your own cannabis venture, Kristi’s wisdom and wit offer a delicious dose of inspiration. You can find out more about the brand where they are available here.