From Real Estate to Cannabis: How Plaid Jacket Became a Washington Cannabis Industry Leader
In the heart of the Pacific Northwest, a group of entrepreneurs with diverse backgrounds came together to create one of Washington state's most innovative cannabis companies. Plaid Jacket, alongside sister brands Flip Side and Field Day, has established itself as a premier name in Washington's cannabis industry through a unique combination of engineering expertise, horticultural knowledge, and business acumen.
The Founders' Journey
Plaid Jacket's story begins with three key figures: Matt Abbey, his brother-in-law Chad Roraback, and John Cox. Before entering the cannabis industry, Abbey and Roraback had built a successful 16-year partnership in real estate investment and construction. Their entry into cannabis happened almost by chance when someone approached them seeking a location for one of Washington's first cannabis licenses.
"We found the property for him and we ended up purchasing the property too," explains Abbey, revealing how their real estate expertise inadvertently led them into a new industry.
The third pillar of the founding team, John Cox, brought crucial technical expertise as an electrical engineer. Described as the "brains of the operation," Cox designed sophisticated systems that would later become central to Plaid Jacket's cultivation philosophy. Complementing the founding trio is General Manager Joe Johnston, characterized as the "glue" that holds everything together.
Building from the Ground Up
What sets Plaid Jacket apart is their purpose-built facility in Lacey, Washington. Rather than retrofitting an existing structure, the team designed their operation from scratch with quality and consistency as guiding principles.
"Our plan from the start was to design in efficiency and intention from the ground up to grow the highest-quality cannabis possible," explains Cox. "To accomplish that, we had to look at basically everything that exists in agriculture and the indoor controlled environment."
The result is a 36,000-square-foot Tier 2 facility housing production and processing operations. The building contains multiple 1,000-square-foot flowering and grow rooms, an in-house tissue culture lab, a micropropagation lab, a dedicated phenohunting area, and a C1D1 lab for BHO extraction.
Engineering Innovation
Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of Plaid Jacket's operation is its state-of-the-art S.C.A.D.A. (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system, designed by Cox. This system provides real-time and historical environmental data, allowing the grow team to make informed decisions about every aspect of cultivation.
The facility incorporates numerous engineering innovations for maximum efficiency. The grow rooms operate on a 12/12 cycle (12 hours on, 12 hours off), allowing for half the electrical infrastructure by transferring power between rooms operating on opposite schedules. As Cox explains, "Half our power is being used in the morning, say, midnight to noon, and then that power continues to the other rooms from noon to midnight."
They've also developed a sophisticated hydronic system that captures waste energy. "Our system here is basically a deconstructed dehumidifier," says Cox. The system uses cold water to pull moisture from the air, while waste heat from metal halide and high-pressure sodium lights is reclaimed for the hot water system and pumped into lights-off rooms.
This integration of systems—where lighting choices affect dehumidification, which affects energy reclamation—showcases the engineering mindset behind Plaid Jacket's approach.
The Growing Philosophy
Plaid Jacket's cultivation strategy combines technological precision with artisanal attention to detail. They describe their approach as "low and slow to keep the terpenes high," focusing on quality over quantity.
"We joke that we are like hippies and scientists working together because we have combined both of those ideologies," says Abbey, highlighting how they merge data-driven decision-making with hands-on craft cultivation.
Their growing medium consists of rock wool for hydroponics, with mother plants grown in coco. While they would prefer soil growing, they've found that hydroponics allows for better consistency and pest management without pesticides.
"To really stay consistent and to stay clean and to keep pests down without using pesticides we don't grow in soil," Abbey explains. Instead, they create what they call "living water," incorporating beneficial microbes and fungi that would naturally be found in healthy soil.
Their integrated pest management (IPM) strategy uses "absolutely zero sprays," relying instead on beneficial mites during flowering and minimal applications of Suffoil-X (a mineral oil product) during vegetation. Strict protocols for room access, including multiple sets of scrubs, foot baths, and sterilization procedures, help maintain a clean growing environment.
The Art of Processing
Plaid Jacket's commitment to quality extends through their harvesting and curing processes. They employ what they call a "fewest touches" methodology, handling plants as little and as gently as possible from harvest to sale.
Their drying process is notably different from industry standards. Plants are hung whole in a controlled cold, dark environment for up to 21 days—much longer than typical operations. "We dry very slowly because we feel that allows the enzymatic process to really kick in and remove as much chlorophyll as possible without putting the terpenes in harm's way," explains Abbey. This is followed by 7-10 days of curing and burping before hand-trimming and packaging.
While this process is labor-intensive and expensive, the team believes it's essential for preserving the quality of their product. "We don't put anything out to the customer that we don't feel is our absolute best," Abbey emphasizes.
Product Portfolio
Plaid Jacket offers a diverse range of products, all created in-house from their own flower. Their product line includes premium flower, hand-rolled pre-rolls, and various concentrates including live rosin and sugar crystal varieties.
Their extensive genetic library offers something for every consumer preference. Some of their standout strains include:
- Pablo's Revenge (Animal Mintz x Sherb Cake)
- Mack's GAK (GAK x GAK by Massive Creations)
- MelvinZ (Zkittlez x Onez)
- MAC (Alien Cookies x Columbian Starfighter)
- Perfect Pair (Smarties x Devil Driver)
- Royal Wedding (Royal Kush 8 x Wedding Cake)
- Specimen X (Project 4516 x Devil Driver)
- Banana RTZ (Banana OG x Runtz)
- Ethiopian Sky Cuddler Kush (Ethiopian x Sky Cuddler Kush)
The company draws from their "extensive and highly coveted seed vault" while maintaining strong relationships with breeders in the community. Their philosophy balances discovering "the next big thing" with preserving established genetics.
Sister Brands
While Plaid Jacket serves as their flagship brand, Spark Industries has developed other product lines to reach different market segments.
Flip Side offers flavored vape products with a playful, vinyl record-inspired aesthetic. Their cartridges and disposable vapes feature natural botanical terpenes blended with high-potency cannabis oil, without additives or fillers. Flavor varieties include Banana Kush, Blueberry Dream, Cherry Gelato, Lemon Lime Pop, Orange Push Pop, Pineapple Express, Strawberry Lemon Haze, and Watermelon Sugar.
Their "Live" line for both cartridges and disposables features a fusion of live and cured BHO resin with botanical terpenes and high-purity THC, offering both unique flavors and authentic flower taste.
Brand Identity
The Plaid Jacket name and identity emerged from the founders' desire to create something distinctively Pacific Northwest. "We wanted something that's distinctively Pacific Northwest," says Abbey. "We thought, if we become a nationwide brand we want people to recognize it immediately as a Pacific Northwest brand."
Abbey, who was a "flannel around the waist" guy during the '90s grunge era, connected with this aesthetic. The brand's identity solidified after a marketing company created a drawing of a plaid jacket and a jackalope. Though the combination seemed random, it resonated immediately: "It made no sense," says Abbey. "But, we were like 'holy shit,' that's it!"
The packaging reflects this attention to brand experience. Plaid Jacket flower comes in recyclable cardboard boxes with glass jars, with the box providing light protection to preserve freshness. "Direct light degrades cannabis very quickly," they note. "Keeping it in the dark helps safeguard freshness even when it's no longer in our hands."
Building Community
Beyond product quality, Plaid Jacket emphasizes their commitment to "cultivating happiness" through a culture of wellbeing and prosperity within their company, industry, and community.
The ownership team maintains a hands-on approach to operations. "Chad and I and John are here everyday," says Abbey. "We are owner operators. It's a family thing. We didn't just build it and then leave it to someone else to run."
Despite developing proprietary systems, Cox openly shares his ideas and engineering approaches with other growers through forums and discussions. "We try to be open with that info," says Cox. "This is just basic physics and engineering and thermodynamics."
This community-minded approach extends to their R&D department, which includes tissue culture work ensuring their genetics remain viroid-free and at optimal health. They're making advances in genetic stability, stasis, reproduction, and breeding that they describe as "unmatched in our industry."
Looking Forward
Since their retail launch in January 2022, Plaid Jacket has quickly established itself as a premium brand in Washington's competitive cannabis market. Their approach balances technological innovation with artisanal quality—reflecting the diverse expertise of their founding team.
With their sophisticated engineering systems, extensive genetic library, and meticulous attention to quality throughout every step of production, Plaid Jacket has positioned itself at the forefront of Washington's craft cannabis scene. Their "quality above all" philosophy permeates every aspect of their operation, from facility design to packaging choices.
As they continue to explore new products and genetic varieties, Plaid Jacket remains committed to their original vision: creating exceptional cannabis through a balanced approach of scientific precision and artisanal craft.
For Washington cannabis consumers seeking premium products with authentic Pacific Northwest character, Plaid Jacket represents the harmonious convergence of technology and tradition in modern cannabis cultivation.
By Michael
Sources:
https://cindersmoke.com/plaid-jacket-flip-side-who-they-are-what-theyre-about/
https://www.sparkindustrieswa.com/our-facility
https://www.sparkindustrieswa.com/
https://growmag.com/farm-visit/9572/
https://kush21.com/plaid-jacket/
https://www.plaidjacket.com/aboutus
WA States Advertising Disclaimer. Just In Case.
- "This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming.";
- "cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug.";
- "There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product."; and
- "For use only by adults twenty-one and older. Keep out of the reach of children."
