By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

We are overjoyed to announce that there are now over 100 markets listed in our Guide to Exceptional Markets (GEMs)!

In fact, the majority of states in the US now have markets listed in this highly selective roster!

We're proud to promote qualified GEMs markets around the country - including these five recently-added listings that helped us surpass 100:

GreenStar Cooperative in Ithaca, NY

Crossroads Farmers Market in Takoma Park, MD

Lake Saint Louis Farmers & Artists Market in Wentzville, MO

Memphis Farmers Market in Memphis, TN

Schenectady Greenmarket in Schenectady, NY

If you're new to the sparkling world of GEMs, let us introduce you: these are the farmers markets, coops, and independent grocers that have made a conscious effort to recognize and prefer the farmer vendors who verify their growing practices with a certification. In turn, Certified Naturally Grown qualifies, applauds, and rewards these markets that are building a better food system by encouraging ecological practices.

Find a listing of all the GEMs markets across the US and Canada here!

Our Guide has three tiers: Recognized, Preferred, and Required. Each tier offers exciting benefits for the markets that make the cut, including social media promotion, a free press release, a dedicated blog post, stacks of temporary tattoos, and more.

You're invited to check out the full benefits package. We're open and interested in other collaborations we can think up together!

Does your neighborhood market feature certified vendors?

If there's at least one CNG farmer, let us know!

We would be delighted if it qualifies, and will happily add it to our GEMs listing.

Farmers, you're especially invited to recommend your market for our GEMs guide! You'll be making sure your market gets as much promotion as possible with the help of the marketing perks that come with being listed in GEMs.

Just click the button below to #PitchYourMarket!

Upcoming GEMs Webinars

Want to learn more about our Guide to Exceptional Markets? Wondering if your market is a good fit?

Register for an upcoming GEMs webinar lead by CNG's Executive Director. The webinar will wrap up with a Q&A session.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020
1pm Eastern / noon Central / 10am Pacific
Click here to register

If this time don't work for you, register for future invitations here.

Top photo: Flowers from Whitton Farms at Memphis Farmers Market (L) and cabbage at Dodo Farms (top R) at Crossroads Farmers Market (bottom L) helped grow our GEMs guide to 100+ listings!

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Hub City Farmers Market, Spartanburg, South Carolina

A highly selective group of farmers markets in this country have made a conscious effort to recognize and prefer the farmer vendors who verify their growing practices with a certification. Certified Naturally Grown is extending our work by actively recognizing and promoting these markets for their role in going the extra mile to help build a more sustainable food system by encouraging ecological practices.

Specifically, we vet these markets to confirm they qualify, and then feature them in our three-tiered Guide to Exceptional Markets (GEMs).

We're proud to promote qualified GEMs markets around the country - including these five newly-listed markets in Alaska, Georgia, Indiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Just click the button below to #PitchYourMarket!

This fall we're calling on farmers markets and grocers to Level Up and get a higher ranking in our three-tier Guide to Exceptional Markets (GEMs).

Tier 1 market managers are encouraged to raise the bar for growing practices at your market and take steps to prefer vendors who hold a certification. You'll boost customer confidence when you encourage vendors to get certified and verify their claims about production practices.

Your market will get a boost too, by receiving a visibly higher ranking in our Guide to Exceptional Markets and all the standard perks awarded to Tier 2 markets:

• free banner design,
• free press release,
• free temporary tattoos of the Exceptional Market badge, and
• priority assistance involving your community stakeholders in CNG farm inspections as Observers.

Take the first step to level up and register here today. 

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Crescent City Farmers Market, New Orleans, Louisiana

Farmers markets are a feast for the senses, and so much more. They stimulate local economies, preserve farmland, promote rural resilience, and increase fresh food access. And members of our Guide to Exceptional Markets (GEMs) take it one step further by recognizing and preferring farms that verify their ecological practices.

We would be delighted to add your neighborhood market to our roster. The perks are plenty! Just click the button below, and #PitchYourMarket.

Learn more about markets across the country that recognize and prefer CNG in our Guide to Exceptional Markets (GEMs).

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

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.

The best farmer's markets are the ones that celebrate local, sustainable farmers and makers. They go the extra mile to make their local food systems more transparent and accessible. The nine markets listed below are committed to sustainable practices by preferring to work with, and in some cases even requiring their producers to become Certified Naturally Grown or organic. 

Learn more about markets across the country that recognize CNG in our Guide to Exceptional Markets (GEMs). 

Food Co-ops and farmers markets are key partners in building a more sustainable local and regional food system. They source from local producers and make it easier to keep money in the local economy while getting quality food at good prices.