By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator


Certified Naturally Grown bounty from the Victory Seed Company

We share this blog post with extra delight: not only is the Victory Seed Company a new Business Ally of Certified Naturally Grown, but the company's farm has been part of our community of certified producers since way back in 2006!

In fact, the Victory Seed Company in Molalla, Oregon is one of two CNG seed companies in the whole country!

You're encouraged to check out their CNG farm profile for some family history and farm ethos.

We caught up with Mike Dunton to chat about the Victory Seed Company's new status as members of our Business Allies community. Mike is a farmer through and through: he can trace his roots to New England in the early 1620s and every generation has farmed since, either exclusively or in conjunction with a trade. After learning that his grandmother had placed their multi-generation family farm on the market, Mike worked fast to quit his high-tech San Francisco job and move to the farm in Oregon to keep it thriving in the family.

The rest is history, and a robust one that that: The Victory Seed Company offers a whopping 480 varieties of Certified Naturally Grown Seeds!

The Victory Seeds Crew celebrating tomato season in 2018

Keep reading to learn more about the Victory Seed Company's dedication. And if you're a Certified Naturally Grown farmer, why not work with The Victory Seed Company the next time you're ordering seeds?

Plus, Mike is interested in generating a CNG Seed Cooperative. If that sounds up your alley, don't hesitate to reach out.

We are proud to have such a long lasting connection with this enthusiastic Business Ally!

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator


CNG peppers, tomatoes, flowers, lettuce, kale and more at Banner Greenhouses 

Banner Greenhouses isn't just certified by Certified Naturally Grown, but they're a Business Ally of CNG, too!

This Nebo, North Carolina business is the definition of #CNGproud. They have over 19 acres in production, each bursting with vegetable, herb, and flower transplants. Banner Greenhouses may be in the business of tiny plant "plugs," but these millions of plugs make a big impact - especially when they're grown under Certified Naturally Grown standards that work in harmony with the nature.

We are proud to have such a strong connection with this enthusiastic Business Ally!

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator


Mary and the Giant Pumpkin

Moscow Food Co-op is not only part of our Guide to Exceptional Markets (GEMs), but they're a Business Ally of CNG, too! 

This Idaho co-op is a GEM because they clearly indicate which vendors or products are CNG-certified in its 46 year-old organization. If you're a local shopper, you'll notice CNG stickers on produce grown by local CNG farms!

We are really looking forward to having a presence at Moscow Food Co-op's annual Farmer Mixer this fall, where the co-op's farmer vendors are invited to come together and learn from one another.

As a Business Ally, Moscow Food Co-op has made a financial contribution to our grassroots organization to help keep CNG affordable for direct-market farmers. 

We wish we lived closer so we could swing by their exceptional deli hot food bar daily for lunch! Meantime, we spoke with Moscow Food Co-op's Market Manager, Alycia Rock, to learn about the co-op's rich history and how CNG makes a difference for both its vendors and eaters.

We are proud to have such a strong connection with this Exceptional Market!

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

AgSquared is a farm management software company created by researchers who have dedicated their careers to making it easier to run a farm well.

Founders Jeff and Giulia were ahead of their time when their platform launched in 2011: they were working in cloud-based technology well before our tech lives all migrated up into the sky!

Since then, it's become an invaluable tool for farms all over the country. We spoke with co-founder Jeff Froikin-Gordon to learn what's new at AgSquared, how their tool helps CNG farms stay organized, and what's on the horizon for this multi-faceted platform.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Earth Tools was one of our first Business Allies, and an enthusiastic one, at that!

The Kentucky company is currently the only full-time power equipment dealership in the USA dedicated solely to walk-behind tractors. Plus, Earth Tools is currently the largest walk-behind tractor dealership in North America!

In fact, founder Joel Dufour has been selling and servicing walk-behind tractors since 1977. We caught up with him to learn more about the mission and history of his company, as well as what Certified Naturally Grown means to him.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

The Fertrell Company is one of the oldest organic fertilizer manufacturers in the United States, and a proud Certified Naturally Grown Business Ally!

The company has come a long way since it began in John Johnson's Maryland garage. We spoke with Casey Trinkaus, Marketing Manager, to learn more about Fertrell's rich past and commitment to sustainable agriculture and forward-thinking business structure.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Brooks Contractor is so much more than a compost company.

Sure, the North Carolina operation diverts massive amounts of food waste from landfill and creates top notch compost blends, but the business is deeply committed to supporting farmers (and eaters) at all points in the food system. We spoke with Amy Brooks Fulford, Brooks Contractor's Food Waste Collection Manager, to learn more about her mission in North Carolina and beyond.

Plus: do you live in North Carolina and want to learn more about hemp production? Be sure to register for the Industrial Hemp Workshop from 4–9 p.m. on Thursday, February 28 in Pittsboro. Amy will be presenting on growing hemp in poor NC soils! More details can be found here.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Are you curious about new ways to control weeds this upcoming season?

WeedGuardPlus is a biodegradable and water permeable mulch made from cellulose fibers that suppresses weeds, sparing countless hours spent on weed management. We spoke with VP of Sales & Marketing Mike Gallagher to learn about paper innovations in the management of unwanted plants.

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!