Forbins Finest — What a difference two decades makes. In 2006, police responding to a noise complaint at the St. Johnsbury home of Nick Mattei discovered three cannabis plants growing in his bedroom. The then-23-year-old Northeast Kingdom native was arrested and convicted of felony cultivation and served three months in prison for his passion for indoor gardening.
Fast-forward to 2025. Mattei is now head cultivator and co-owner, with his wife, Angela Payette, of Forbins Finest. The Barre bud growers produce an extensive selection of cannabis pre-rolls, vape cartridges, concentrates, edibles, tinctures and, naturally, loose flower, all sold in more than a dozen dispensaries from Burlington to St. Johnsbury and Derby to Brattleboro. Whether you’re craving the Raspberry Parfait, Blueberry Cupcake, Pineapple Cream or Strawberry Mango Haze — is anyone else getting the munchies? — the 2024 Daysie runner-up was judged this year’s best ganja grower by the state’s high court of public opinion. A dope decision.
Other Finalists
- Bern Legacy
- Emerald Visions
- Mr. Z Craft Cannabis
- Yellowbird Cannabis
This article appears in Seven Daysies 2025.
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