Gerard Patrick Hunt '81
Owner/Partner
B.S.B. ’81 (Carlson School of Management)
Alumni Association Member
About Verist
Traditionally, our family has grown grains, sweet corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, apples and squash, as well as raising bees. As the fourth generation now managing the farm, my wife, brother-in-law and I added hemp to the rotation shortly after production was legalized in 2018. We had no idea then the full power the plant possesses, or how deeply passionate about it we would become.
Today, Verist CBD exists because our family believes not only that CBD is a powerful remedy, but that producing it naturally, thoughtfully and honestly really matters. That’s why we chose the name Verist: it’s rooted in truth, just like everything we do.
The foundation of Verist CBD products is high-quality hemp grown as simply and organically as possible. We cultivate our plants in an all-natural, bio-diverse environment, water them with rainfall or natural spring water and manage them with beneficial insects in lieu of chemicals or pesticides. We monitor for the optimal harvest period and hand-select flowers for the finest quality. After weeks of drying and curing to fully express the aromas and benefits of the plant, we carefully extract what we need and craft it into the Verist products we offer to you. As founders, we personally oversee the entire process, ensuring everything is crafted to the highest quality with microscopic attention to detail.
Alumni Discount
15% of first order with code UMN15
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About Gerard Patrick
The landscape of camp and cannabis as a part of everyday life is changing. Fourth generation family farm and strong members of the community, the Peterson family (notably known for Sever's Fall Festival and Corn Maze) made the thoughtful decision to start growing the highest quality hemp on the farm and offer the highest quality THC and CBD products to the MN market. Producing the highest quality product, Nicola and Aaron knew they needed cool, attractive and smart marketing, packaging and display. They knew Patrick Hunt, of award winning digital agency Hunt Adkins and realized their shared passion made for the perfect partnership.
Verist products are single-origin, meaning they always come from hemp grown on our farm and are always processed to meet our high standards. Because of this, when you start a THC or CBD regimen with Verist products, you can feel confident you’ll get the same consistent benefits with every batch of product. This steadfast commitment to quality is at the very center of the owner/growers team.
The journey as a THC and CBD brand is still just beginning, but the further Verist gets, the more they understand just how much of an impact hemp can have on improving everyday lives. Whether it’s treating or managing pain, reducing anxiety or amplifying joy, it is truly amazing to see what this plant has the power to do—especially when it’s grown the right way.
Verist does appreciate how rare it is for a small multi-generational family business like ours to be able to survive the ups and downs of the past century. They feel incredibly fortunate to be launching this new venture on the same land their ancestors started out on, and to show that farming is a way of life versus just a way to making a living. Verist is grateful to be able to share the passion for honest, naturally effective remedies with you—our customers—and we are so glad you are here.
