We honor the food co-ops, grocers, and farmers markets that affirm their Certified Naturally Grown producers that take the extra steps to highlight and verify their practices.
How does a market get listed?
Markets can qualify for the first Tier by having at least one CNG vendor, and explicitly recognizing their certification. To receive a higher level of recognition, additional criteria must be met (more information here). Markets that qualify for Tier 2 or Tier 3 receive greater benefits from Certified Naturally Grown.
Benefits of being a GEMs Market
Tier 1: Recognize
- Social media promotion
- Inclusion in the Guide to Exceptional Markets (GEMs)
- Free laminated sign promoting your GEMs listing
- Permission to use Exceptional Market badge for your Tier
Tier 2: Prefer
- All the benefits included in Tier 1
PLUS
- Free banner design
- Free press release
- Free temporary tattoos for market booth
- Priority assistance involving community stakeholders in CNG farm inspections
Tier 3: Require
- All the benefits included in Tiers 1 and 2
PLUS
- Dedicated blog post about your market
- Other collaborations we can think up together!
Could my market qualify?
Find out what it takes to qualify for each Tier in our Tier Guide.
Who has done this?
Find all our Exceptional Markets listed below. We feature shining examples on social media and our blog posts. For example, 9 Exceptional Farmers Markets in the US and Food Co-ops and Independent Grocers that Prefer CNG celebrate the leading markets taking steps to ensure customer confidence and high quality vendors.
Please take the steps to join these Exceptional Markets! We would be delighted to add yours to our roster.
Step 1: Click the button below, and #PitchYourMarket.
Alaska
Co-ops/Grocers
Panhandle Produce, Juneau
Salt and Soil Marketplace, Southeast Alaska
Arkansas
Co-ops/Grocers
Ozark Natural Foods, Fayetteville
New South Produce Cooperative, Little Rock
Farmers Markets
Beebe Farmers' Market, Beebe
Fayetteville Farmer's Market, Fayetteville
Siloam Springs Locally Grown, Siloam Springs
Arizona
Co-ops/Grocers
Food Conspiracy Co-op, Tucson
Florida
Co-ops/Grocers
New Leaf Market Co-op, Tallahassee
Georgia
Co-ops/Grocers
Daily Groceries Co-op, Athens
Farmers Market
Athens Farmers Market, Athens
Grant Park Farmers Market, Atlanta
Peachtree Road Farmers Market, Atlanta
Clarkesville Farmers Market, Clarkesville
Lilburn Farmers Market, Lilburn
Marietta Square Farmers Market, Marietta
Norcross Community Market, Norcross
Northeast GA Locally Grown, Rabun, Habersham and Hall County
Piedmont Park Conservancy, Atlanta
Ponce City Farmers Market, Atlanta
Roswell Farmers and Artisans Market, Roswell
The Cumming Harvest, Cumming
Farmers Market at Vickery Village, Cumming
Wednesday Market, Zebulon
West Broad Farmers Market, Athens
Idaho
Co-ops/Grocers
Moscow Food Co-op, Moscow
Iowa
Co-ops/Grocers
Iowa Food Cooperative, Des Moines
Farmers Markets
LSI Global Greens Farmers' Market, Des Moines
Illinois
Farmers Markets
Green City Market: Lincoln Park, Chicago
Green City Market: West Loop, Chicago
Green City Market: Indoor Market, Chicago
Indiana
3 Rivers Natural Grocery, Fort Wayne
Louisiana
Crescent City Farmers Market: Saturday Downtown, New Orleans
Crescent City Farmers Market: Thursday Mid-City, New Orleans
Crescent City Farmers Market: Tuesday Uptown, New Orleans
Crescent City Farmers Market: Wednesday Bywaters, New Orleans
Maine
Co-ops/Grocers
Founding Farmers Community Market, Gardiner
Maryland
Co-ops/Grocers
Dawson's Market, Rockville
Takoma Park-Silver Spring Food Co-op, Takoma Park
Michigan
Farmers Markets
Kalamazoo Farmers Market, Kalamazoo
Minnesota
Co-ops/Grocers
River Market Community Co-op, Stillwater
Farmers Markets
Mill City Farmers Market, Minneapolis
Northeast Farmers Market, Minneapolis
Mississippi
Farmers Markets
Oxford Community Farmers Market, Oxford
New York
Co-ops/Grocers
Abundance Food Co-op, Rochester
Lori's Natural Foods, Rochester
Farmers Markets
Greenmarket: Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn
Greenmarket: Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
Greenmarket: Abingdon Square, New York City
Greenmarket: 97th Street Greenmarket, New York City
North Carolina
Co-ops/Grocers
Weaver Street Market Co-op, Carrboro
Ohio
Farmers Markets
Miami County Locally Grown, Miami County
Oklahoma
Farmers Markets
OSU-OKC Farmers Market, Oklahoma City
Oregon
Farmers Markets
Oregon City Farmers Market, Oregon City
Umpqua Valley Farmers Market, Rosedale
Pennsylvania
Co-ops/Grocers
East End Food Co-op, Pittsburgh
Farmers Markets
Dickinson Square Park Farmers' Market, Philadelphia
Media Farmers' Market, Media
Rittenhouse Farmers' Market, Philadelphia
The Bryn Mawr Farmers' Market, Bryn Mawr
Swarthmore Farmers Market, Swarthmore
South Dakota
Co-ops/Grocers
Breadroot Natural Foods Co-op, Rapid City
Tennesse
Co-ops/Grocers
Demeter's Common, Lebanon
Three Rivers Market Co-op, Knoxville
Farmers Markets
Cooper-Young Farmers Market, Memphis
East Nashville Farmers Market, Nashville
Johnson County Farmers Market, Mountain City
Nourish Knoxville's Market Square Farmers Market, Knoxville
Richland Park Farmers Market, Nashville
South Cumberland Farmers Market, Franklin, Coffee, Grundy, and Marion Counties
South Memphis Farmers Market, Memphis
Texas
Farmers Markets
Galveston's Own Farmers Market, Galveston
Virginia
Co-ops/Grocers
Ellwood Thompson's Local Market, Richmond
Fredericksburg Area CSA Project, Fredericksburg
Farmers Markets
Farmers Market at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church, Richmond
Washington
Farmers Markets
Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market, Wenatchee