Grape Expectations

Meet Garrett Haag and Certified Seeds

Behind every standout strain is a passionate breeder who has started from the bottom and risen in the ranks, and Garrett Haag is no exception. We sat down with Garrett, the founder of Certified Seeds, to hear his story through cannabis.

Being the son of a medical marijuana patient, Garrett saw the need for a higher grade cannabis that was both stable and reliable: “I grew up around medical cannabis, so I saw early on that weed is more than just a fun pastime.” But frustration with unstable genetics pushed him into breeding: 

I got tired of paying for seeds that weren’t what they claimed to be. I felt I could do better.”

And that’s exactly what he did.

After years of trial and error, hours of research, deep dives into online community forums, and hands-on experience. Garrett took what he had learned and applied his passion to push him to the next level. After working in a commercial grow in Oregon, Garrett decided to dedicate himself to breeding stable, high-quality genetics, and Certified Seeds was born.

The Certified Seeds Approach

Garrett’s breeding philosophy is simple: Provide stable, user-friendly strains packed with flavor. He spent over five years perfecting the Grape Fanta line, ensuring its consistency and an easy-to-grow cannabis plant. 

Certified Seeds took years to set up as they focus on the traits that matter: High Potency, mouth staining terpene profiles, stable resilient genetics, short flowering time and all round easy to grow cultivars.

You can’t rush good genetics. I spent years searching for the right traits before releasing a single strain.

Guaranteed Grape-ness: The Latest Drop

The newest drop from Certified Seeds is a guaranteed grape-flavored wonderland, featuring three Grape Fanta crosses and, as the cherry on top - an extra cherry-infused treat. Whether you’re into candy-sweet terps or gassy undertones, there’s something here for every palate. Let’s break down the lineup and introduce the grape gang.

Grape Fanta

Close up of the Grape Fanta strain

Thanks to its parents, Flavor Crystals, and Grape Octane OG in its lineage, when you crack a nug of Grape Fanta, the aroma comes at you in layers: first, a wave of grape candy widens your senses, followed by subtle notes of orange peel, and finally, a backdrop of gassy notes and fuel envelops the whole experience.

I can always pick it out of a lineup. That grape candy funk is just so unique; you can smell it from a mile away.

• Lineage: Grape Octane OG x Flavor Crystals

• Total THC: 33.8%

• Aroma: Sweet grape candy with bright citrus notes

• Grow Tips: Medium-sized plant with sturdy branches, easy on nutrients

• Flowering Time: ~8 weeks

• Why You’ll Love It: Five years in the making, this strain is the backbone of Certified Seeds’ grape-heavy lineup.

• Total Cannabinoids: 41.3%

• Total Terpenes: 3.98%

Always aiming to please, Garrett says: “It’s a medium-sized plant, very sturdy. It barely needs trellising.”

Grape Runtz

Close up of the Grape Runtz strain

Grape Runtz combines the candy sweetness of the legendary Runtz cut with the fruity, rich notes of Grape Fanta. This fusion brings forward an innovative “Grape Candy Gas” profile unique to this strain from Certified Seeds. Imagine juicy grape goodness and sweet Zkittlez terps colliding in a swirl of creamy Gelato.

I love this perfect mix of the two because that's a new, unique thing; where the candy from the Runtz meets that creamy Gelato & Grape on the back end.

• Lineage: Grape Fanta x Runtz

• Total THC: 33.3%

• Aroma: Candy-loaded with hints of grape and darker fruit

• Grow Tips: More stretchy than Grape Fanta, so supports may be needed

• Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks

• Why You’ll Love It: If you love sweet, candy-like flavors, this one delivers in spades.

• Total Cannabinoids: 38.9%

• Total Terpenes: 3.59%

Project Fanta

Close up of the Project Fanta strain

Project Gary (Project 4516 x Gary Payton) and Grape Fanta unite creating a potent grape-forward candy gas scent that’s impossible to ignore. Phenotypes may vary between sweet vanilla notes, courtesy of Project Gary, and tangy grape/citrus accents from Grape Fanta. Expect dark purple to nearly black buds blanketed in trichrome frost: visual proof of the strain’s top-shelf potential.

It’s got that really sought-after terp profile that you can recognize even before opening the bag. I love this strain because it’s so distinct. It’s mouthstaining, it’s a real screamer!

• Lineage: Project Gary (Mother) x Grapricot Pie F1 (Father, reversed)

• Total THC: 32.7%

• Aroma: Candy-gas blend, super loud and skunky-sweet

• Grow Tips: Medium to tall plant, watch for final stretch

• Flowering Time: 8-9 weeks

• Why You’ll Love It: A funky blend of candy and gas, this one goes the extra mile in both potency and aroma.

• Total Cannabinoids: 40.2%

• Total Terpenes: 4.08%

Cherry Limeaid

Close up of the Cherry Limeaid strain

Cherry Limeaid is an exclusive cross of Lemon Cherry Gelato with Grape Fanta to deliver a mouth-staining, eye-watering cannabis strain with candy-like sweetness and no-nonsense straight-up fuel. Think fresh lime zest layered over thick, dank gas notes that become impossible to ignore once you open the bag. Some phenos lean more toward the sweet Gelato profile, while others pack that pure, nose-wrinkling gasoline scent.

You’re gonna find some of those phenos are just pure gas and berries. On the West Coast, we just love the loud OG strains, and Lemon Cherry Limeaid brings a perfect combination for fruity candy gas that we all love.

• Lineage: Lemon Cherry Gelato x Grape Fanta

• Total THC: 31.8%

• Aroma: Strong gas with a sweet fruit twist

• Grow Tips: Medium height, sturdy, no heavy training required

• Flowering Time: 8 weeks (you can push it to 9 if you want more color.  

• Why You’ll Love It: This strain stands out with its blend of zesty lime and induced with cherry.

• Total Cannabinoids: 41.06%

• Total Terpenes: 3.91%

Garrett’s Growing Tips

If you’re a beginner, don't worry. Certified Seeds makes growing easy, but here are some extra tips from Garrett to help you succeed:

• Less is more – “A lot of beginners feed their plants too much. Let them breathe.”

• Harvest smart – “I love that these strains don’t take forever. Many finish around eight weeks.”

Wrap-Up: Why Certified Seeds Stands Out

Garrett’s diligence ensures that when you pop a seed, you know exactly what to expect: stable, potent, and flavorful cannabis.

“We don’t just follow the hype. We put these plants through real stress tests to ensure they’re stable, I don’t want homegrowers wasting money and time. I test everything in my own grow before it ever gets released.”

Meeting Garrett, hearing his story and where he came from, and seeing him discuss cannabis so passionately truly conveys how much this plant means to him. That commitment and spirit carries through to Certified Seeds’ meticulously crafted genetics. 

If you’re ready for a candy-grape explosion with tried and tested genetics, why not give Certified Seeds a whirl. With years of work behind every strain, Garrett’s done the hard work so you can relax and just enjoy the fun part: growing, smelling, and smoking that great weed.