I'm not sure of the criteria, per se (particulars). I know these are some of the particulars taken into account:Grower - only some growers in the syndicate are even able to get the AAA rank on their stuff - you have to meet quality benchmarks over time to do itIt's specific cuts from a harvest - not all bud from a crop rotation is going to be AAAOnly certain strains can get you an AAA rating. Some strains just aren't able to produce enough THC.Trimming quality, flushing, and curing are all contributing factors, which again rely on the skill of the grower and having his operation and continuous production inspected to ensure quality.I only deal with the receiving rep for the syndicate for my area, so I'm not actually in contact with the growers themselves or even the central processing and shipping op for us distributors. I just know because I've asked my receiver and he basically told me the above. All I know is that our AAA fetches over 3k per pound street in CANADA. Based on my experience in the US, this is the kind of stuff you'd pay 6k for in Miami or east coast, where it's harder to find, and probably around 3-4k for in Cali from a wholesaler.Anarcho47