By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Just like the symbiotic relationship between pollinators and produce, Certified Naturally Grown farmers rely on their local farmers markets, co-ops, and independent grocery stores to support their work.

Our Guide to Exceptional Markets (GEMs) has been a key resource for farmers and markets alike to thrive. GEMs source from ecologically-minded, CNG-certified growers to make it easier to keep money in the local economy and to promote a stronger food system and healthier community.

We have some beautiful badges and updates to make this year the most sparkling year for sustainable, local food yet! Keep reading to learn more about what's new and how to get involved.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator



Ohio Earth Food provides organic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and more for ecologically-minded growers. We spoke with Ted Stutz, Owner of Ohio Earth Food, to learn more about this great resource for CNG growers. Ohio and Wisconsin farmers, listen up! Ohio Earth Food offers assistance with soil testing, and can also deliver products to your farm!

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

From animal feed to zinc oxide, Seven Springs Organic Farming Supplies has everything you need to prepare for a successful growing season.

The Virginia-based CSA farm and supply source caters to ecological operations of all sizes, and has long been an enthusiastic champion of our certification! We spoke with Crop Adviser Daniel Sweeney about how his work with Seven Springs Organic Farming Supplies supports our network of Certified Naturally Grown farmers. Thanks to the Seven Springs team for taking this all-staff photo exclusively for this blog post!

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

It may be January, but June is never far from Certified Naturally Grown farmers' minds! Seed catalogs arrive in mailboxes this time of the year with an anticipated thud, each glossy booklet brimming with jewel-toned possibilities for the growing season ahead.

Harris Seeds Organic's catalog doesn't disappoint (just look at that constellation!), and we're proud to announce that they were among some of the first companies to sign on as a Business Ally of Certified Naturally Grown!

In this month of seed dreaming and crop plan scheming, we interviewed Brand Manager Daniel Eggert about how his work with Harris Seeds Organic supports the nationwide community of CNG growers.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator


Farmers from Raindrop Ridge, Five Apple Farm Honey, and Spruill Farm Conservation Project with CNG's Alice Varon at Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's 2015 Sustainable Agriculture Conference

We can't wait to see you at a number of conferences throughout the US in the next few months!

...and by "we," we mean the CNG community at large.

That's right, local Certified Naturally Grown Ambassadors will be representing our grassroots group at these excellent events. 

We are delighted to be able to tap CNG farmers to enthusiastically stand for our certification at local (but large!) events. This means we can be more efficient as an organization, minimizing travel costs and allowing local folks to dig deeper into their communities to help CNG grow.

Keep reading to learn the whos, whats, wheres, and whens of the 2019 conference season!

Plus: Are you looking to connect with our ambassadors or attend a CNG meetup during the conference? Sign up at the tail end of this post!

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

WE DID IT!

Thanks to our generous community, we SURPASSED our 2018 fundraising goal of $3,000 for our Grassroots Fund!

By Aly Miller, Design and Marketing

In the lush wilderness of British Columbia sits Santa Rosa Ranch, a Certified Naturally Grown Christmas tree farm, where trees are grown in harmony with nature without use of synthetic chemicals or pesticides. These beautiful fir trees are not only healthy for the soil, water and wildlife, but also safe for people and their homes.

Farmer Christopher Delaney at Santa Rosa Ranch in Barrière, British Columbia, is the only majority-Christmas tree grower in the Certified Naturally Grown community, and this year marks his first harvest.

Just in time for the holidays, we interviewed Delaney about what it’s like to grow Christmas trees and bring them to market for the first time.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...have you made your list, and checked it twice?

Whether you're looking for the perfect something for your mom or your employer, your mail carrier or your daughter, Kwanzaa or Christmas, Certified Naturally Grown farmers and beekeepers have the perfect gifts for your community! Plus, when you buy a present directly from our family of grassroots growers, your gift supports growers who say "no!" to GMOs and synthetic chemicals. 

With all the gifting (and re-gifting) that happens this time of year, why not give a gift that creates a more eco-friendly world?

Keep reading for our guide to farm-friendly treats. Don't worry, we won't tell if you buy one of everything for yourself, too!

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Imagine . . . you’ve lost all but one room of your home.

The power has been out for three weeks, so you’ve been forced to shower and cook outside in 100°F weather with endless rain. Cell service is close to impossible. You can forget about internet.

What’s more, you’re a farmer. Your acres are decimated. You’ve lost everything but your purple top turnips in the saturated soil.

This is the reality for Ronnie and Scott Barnes of Happy Homestead Farm in Fountain, Florida. They have to be prepared for any little “blip on the radar” to become a Category 4 storm, like Hurricane Michael did in early October.

They could lose their entire farm at any moment.

Farmers depend on our Grassroots Fund to get through difficult times. But this year’s hardships surpassed all prior years, and the fund has run dry. Won’t you help us replenish it? Your gift today will be MATCHED!

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Image via Songbird Farm

Certified Naturally Grown farmers and beekeepers work tirelessly to grow the very stuff that keeps us alive! In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we're sharing a few of the many of tough jobs growers do to keep our fridges full and our hearts fed.

Read on to see if your least favorite farm chore made the cut!