Valley Pure Farm's Watermelon Sugar won a gold award from the California State Fair Cannabis Awards. Photo via SC Labs

Valley Pure Farms in Woodlake represented the Central Valley well this summer, taking home a gold award in the first-ever California State Fair Cannabis Awards.

More than 300 entries were evaluated during this year’s competition that took place in June in Sacramento, with a total of 60 trophies and medals awarded.

“Adding cannabis cultivation, alongside wine, craft beer, cheese and olive oil, was a perfect fit with the CA State Fair’s history of celebrating California’s rich agriculture history,” said California Exposition & State Fair Board of Director Chair Jess Durfee in a statement.

Judging didn’t involve smoking the cannabis. It is a science-based competition evaluating cannabis flower across three divisions: indoor, outdoor and mixed light. The flower was tested by SC Labs in Santa Cruz and evaluated for its chemical compounds.

Valley Pure Farms won a gold medal in the indoor class for its Watermelon Sugar cultivar. According to its “PhytoFacts” lab report, it features an “herbal” aroma with an “earthy” and “fruity” flavor.

Valley Pure Farms in Woodlake was the first Central Valley dispensary to open in 2018. It’s run by Bruce Kopitar of Woodlake, who also owns telecommunications service provider US Tower.

In addition to Farmersville, Valley Pure has retail locations in Woodlake, Lindsay and Lemoore with another in the works for Tulare.