Exclusive Interview: How Fast Buds Became the Gold Standard of Autoflower Breeding

In today’s cannabis landscape, where innovation meets genetics, few names have shaped the story of autoflowers like Fast Buds. What began in 2010 as a California dream - a handful of passionate breeders determined to give autoflowers the respect they deserved - has grown into a global powerhouse that continues to redefine excellence year after year.

For over a decade, Fast Buds has built its reputation not through hype, but through results. From the streets of Los Angeles to the grow tents of Spain, Canada, and South America, their genetics have proven that autoflowers aren’t just a niche - they’re a revolution.

High yield, bold flavor, reliable stability - Fast Buds has elevated these traits to an art form. And nowhere has that evolution been more visible than on the stage of the American Autoflower Cup.

A Legacy Built on Passion and Precision

Fast Buds entered the competitive scene with something to prove - and they didn’t just participate; they dominated. Every year since their debut, their name has become synonymous with podium finishes and record-breaking results.

At the 2023 American Autoflower Cup, Strawberry Gorilla stole the spotlight, winning 1st Place Best Sativa, while Banana Purple Punch locked in Best Indica, showcasing the dual power of flavor and potency.

The following year, those same genetics - grown by dedicated cultivators like James Ziegler and Dereck San Miguel - carried the Fast Buds banner to even greater heights.

James, who’s been growing exclusively autos for six years, walked on stage with Banana Purple Punch once again - this time taking 2nd Place Best Indica 2024 - backed by lab results of 30% THC and 33% total cannabinoids.

But for him, it wasn’t about glory; it was about purpose. “First and foremost, I’m a medical grower,” he said. “I grow for my son, who has epilepsy. At the end of the day, I’m already winning before I walk in the door - everything else is icing on the cake.”

That’s the kind of story Fast Buds inspires - people who don’t just grow for trophies, but for meaning.

From the Grow Room to the Winners’ Podium

For Dereck San Miguel, known in the community as Good Buddy Flower, Fast Buds represented creative freedom. His story reads like a grower’s evolution in fast-forward - from experimenting with flower to mastering extraction. In 2023, he won 1st Place Best Indica with Banana Purple Punch.

In 2024, he switched gears with Ztrawberriez Auto, winning 1st Place Best Sativa out of 70 entries.

“That one was super purple, real frosty, citrusy terps, golf-ball-sized buds,” he said. “I’m glad the judges caught that one.” By 2025, he had transformed again - becoming part of Cup history by entering the first-ever Autoflower Hash category with Orange Sherbet. 

He grew organically in no-till living soil, harvested, froze, and washed his buds by hand using a simple bubble setup. His process wasn’t high-tech  it was pure, hands-on dedication. And it paid off. “Seed to extract - that’s all me,” Dereck said, holding his trophy for 1st Place Best Auto Hash 2025.

“The terps were there, the looks were there, and the turnaround compared to a photo is ridiculous. Autoflowers give you unique flavors every time.”

“I’m a terp fiend,” he laughed. “Fast Buds genetics just keep surprising me - candy gas, fruit funk, tropicals, you name it.” Beyond the Cup, he also earned 1st Place Terps at the San Diego Farmer’s Cup - going head-to-head with photoperiod growers and winning with Strawberry Gorilla rosin.

Community-Driven, Globally Recognized

When Chubbs took the stage in 2025 to accept the community-voted award for Best Autoflower Breeder, the moment wasn’t just a win for Fast Buds - it was a statement from growers worldwide. “It really strikes home,” he said. “I grow exclusively Fast Buds medically. I’ve grown every one of their strains, and for the community to vote them Best Breeder - that’s humbling. It’s like everyone now sees what I see.”

That recognition didn’t come out of nowhere. Fast Buds has earned dozens of awards across major international events - from Frostbanger Auto breaking THC records at the Autoflower World Cup to Guava Auto and Ztrawberriez Auto taking home multiple global wins.

Their genetics have been tested, celebrated, and documented by respected labs and cultivators across continents.

With each passing year, the consistency of their results speaks louder than any marketing line. Blue Dream’Matic, Gorilla Cookies, Bruce Banner Auto, Original Lemon Pie - their catalog reads like a hall of fame for modern autos, each strain refined through relentless breeding and testing to maintain what they call “the California essence.”

From California Craft to Global Benchmark

Fast Buds represents more than breeding mastery - it represents a cultural shift. They’ve turned autoflowers from a curiosity into a cornerstone of modern cannabis, a category that now competes - and wins - against the most refined photoperiod lines.

Their success is not only measured in trophies but in how growers talk about them - the trust, the consistency, the loyalty. As one grower put it at the Cup, “Fast Buds is the benchmark. Everyone else is still catching up.” With hundreds of global awards, community respect, and genetics that perform from grow tent to competition stage, Fast Buds isn’t just the best autoflower breeder - they are the breeder that defined what “best” means in the first place. 

And as the next generation of growers prepares for the American Autoflower Cup 2026, one truth remains: when it comes to autos, Fast Buds set the standard - and everyone else follows. 

Head to our Youtube to check the full Fast Buds winners' interviews and learn how to grow champion plants, make the best extraction or why Fast Buds is THE seedbank of choice if you want to win!