Lindsay Howells has been farming in Oregon City, Oregon since 2016, and demonstrates her care for the land through farming. She grows an astounding array of produce on just 1/3 acre--including a unique variety of garlic that her customers have completely fallen in love with. 

Congratulations to These 50 Newly-Certified Farmers and Beekeepers

We are delighted to welcome these 50 farmers and beekeepers who have completed all the requirements for CNG certification since the end of June. They are listed below alphabetically by state and province.

Hoe in hand, hand weeding the garlic. Goeffrey Yockey (right) and Jaykob Dolquist (left)

We wanted to learn a little more about what it's like to be a Certified Naturally Grown garlic farmer, so we spoke with Jana Yockey of Garlic Gods in the Magic Valley region Idaho, which became certified in June of 2020. With a farm name like that, we knew they'd have some insight to share!

With the input of CNG beekeepers, we created two new market safety signs, and one Proud to Be sign!

Special Focus This Quarter: Black Farmers of CNG

The current moment has us looking closely at what role Certified Naturally Grown can play to help overcome racial inequity, particularly within our farming and food systems. Our inquiry is in the early stages, but in the spirit of elevating Black voices, this Harvest Quarterly is dedicated to featuring some of the Black CNG farmers we are proud to have in our community, plus the usual task of welcoming our latest crop of newly-certified members. The other content we had originally intended to share here can wait, and will be included in our next monthly update, in our Naturally Grown News. (Sign up here to get our updates delivered to your inbox.)

A Whopping 84 Newly-Certified Farmers and Beekeepers

Not everyone who applies to CNG qualifies to complete the certification process. So we are delighted to welcome and congratulate the 84 producers who achieved this distinction since the end of February, including bumper crops from Georgia and Virginia, with 14 and 8 new members from each respectively. Read more to see all of our newly-certified producers listed below alphabetically by state and province. 

Father and son work side-by-side on hard-won land that’s been in the family since 1874

The roots run deep at Bugg Farm, where Addis Bugg Junior is the sixth generation on his family farm in the western Georgia hamlet of Pine Mountain. His great great great grandfather T.J. was brought to the land as a slave, and worked hard to purchase 1,000 acres after emancipation. The Buggs have continued to grow vegetables and raise cattle on the same land since 1874. 

At Lockard's Produce, Debra Lockard farms the same land that her parents and grandparents took care of. Today, Debra feeds the community in many ways--mentoring young farmers, teaching young growers, and of course, growing nutrient-dense food.

You can see the hard work and pride that goes into Dodo Farms just by looking at their farmstand at the Crossroads Farmers Market in Takoma Park, Maryland. There you'll see Olaniyi Balogun brimming with passion for farming, a pursuit he brought with him from Nigeria in 2016. Read below to learn more about his farming journey.

Nisani Farm celebrates the legacy of Belizean women farmers, a history that Ann Codrington continues on her farm in central Virginia. The name of her farm embodies that history -- "nisani" means "our daughter" in the Garifuna language of Belize. Ann and her family grow fresh vegetables year-round, in unheated high tunnels that help them produce less common crops like ginger and turmeric. Ann joined the CNG community in 2017, and she recently shared her story with us--read our interview with her below! 

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Jennie Love shows off her new Certified Naturally Grown Certificate

We are thrilled to welcome farmer-florist Jennie Love of Love 'n Fresh Flowers to the Certified Naturally Grown community! Love 'n Fresh Flowers is now the only full service florist offering 100% Certified Naturally Grown flowers.

For those uninitiated with this game changer, Jennie Love is known as a true leader and educator in the sustainable flower field. She is the President of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, as well as an instructor at the legendary Longwood Gardens. Jennie is renowned for her stunningly seasonal and often unconventional arrangements, as well as her thorough workshops for both the curious public and seasoned professionals.

Her teaching farm exists on five acres of preserved green space in Philadelphia, showcasing some of the city's best blooms and most innovative floral design - in an unexpected location. 

All of her groundbreaking work is dedicated to the health of the earth and her community. As Jennie puts it,

This Certificate speaks to our deeper commitment to growing in a truly sustainable manner, focused first on nurturing Nature and second on the production of crops. Turns out if you put Nature first, she helps you grow even better crops!

Jennie Love is building momentum toward a flower industry where passionate farmer-florists grow extraordinary blooms and thriving businesses without the use of synthetic chemicals, and with an unwavering commitment to seasonality for even the pickiest clients.

We are honored that Love 'n Fresh Flowers is now a dedicated member of the CNG community.

In fact, Jennie was so jazzed about gaining her certification that she published a blog on her website about what joining CNG means to her. In case you missed it during the holiday hubbub, we've decided share some highlights of the post with you below.

Do you know a flower farmer who would be a great fit for Certified Naturally Grown? Direct them to CNGfarming.org/flowers