By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

We're proud to announce that we just sent out the first-ever edition of our print newsletter, Growing Above and Beyond! Read on for a sneak peek at the articles, and learn how to snag your very own copy.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

To enter a career in the armed forces, you're going to need a bushel of stamina, agility, and faith. Farming isn't too different - it's certainly not for the faint of heart, and it calls for a diverse skillset you won't often find in civilian jobs. Here are just some of our valued veteran Certified Naturally Grown farmers who have extended their public service after returning home from the military. This Veteran's Day, join us in expressing gratitude for the their work as they continue to protect our land, our waterways, and our health with their CNG crops.

Just like many CNG farms, Certified Naturally Grown runs a tight ship to keep our grassroots certification program thriving. We’re proud to announce the addition of three new teammates. Following the departure of Hannah and Ariel, our staff has recently grown from four to a whopping five people! As the farm season starts to wind down, our busy season approaches. We look forward to connecting with you during the winter months!

Read on to meet the new faces joining Alice and Aly at CNG:

If you applied for certification between 2011-2018, it was Hannah who walked you through the application process, offering advice and answering questions about CNG standards every step of the way. In fact, she reviewed more than 2,000 applications during her time with CNG! She also helped to draft standards for new CNG certification programs in both aquaponics and mushroom production. More recently she helped to revise our inspection worksheets to provide more guidance on best practices, as part of our Inspections 2.0 initiative.

After serving as our certification specialist for six years, Hannah is leaving CNG to dive deeper into her PhD thesis on the history of natural resources management in Minneapolis. In celebration of our longest-serving staff person (other than our director!), we interviewed Hannah about her experience here at CNG and the aspects of the job that she'll never forget. We won't forget you, either, Hannah! Thanks for all you've done. 

The 2018 Farm Bill is moving into conference – a time when the House and Senate attempt to reconcile the differences in each of their drafts to pass a final, unified bill. When it comes to growing our nation’s local and regional food economies, the Senate version of the Farm Bill comes out as the clear winner. The Senate’s bill lights the way forward for a brighter food and farm future by including a $60-million-per-year investment in local food systems through the innovative Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP). We need to ensure LAMP makes it into the final Farm Bill.

An eye-catching display at the farmer's market requires more than beautiful produce and goods, but also effective signage, spatial creativity and artistry. How do you stand out, draw people in, and bring them back week after week? To answer these questions, we draw inspiration from savvy Certified Naturally Grown farmers and producers who are doing just that. It's impossible to highlight every incredible CNG farm stand in one post, so stay tuned for more!

As a farmer with dozens of varieties of unique, colorful vegetables at the market every week, you're probably asked for cooking advice all the time. If it's too busy at your market to fully answer these questions, you might want to consider including recipes on your website or in your email newsletters! Here are four examples of CNG farmers are doing just that--let their work inspire you!

Certified Naturally Grown flower farmers fill an important void at the market, raising their blooms locally, and guided by environmental and social health. As Americans become more aware of the unsustainable and unfair labor conditions behind floral imports, producers like the ones below exemplify what sustainable and healthy flower farming looks like. Get to know them here!

At last, we have produced the perfect Market Tote for our supporters, made of recycled cotton canvas, and featuring a hand-drawn design by Aly Miller.