Peer inspections are at the heart of our certification process, and a top reason farmers are drawn to CNG. For several years we have been evolving our distinct approach, to maximize the value it offers.

Last fall we combined two somewhat recent innovations to create a third:            

Observed Inspections (2019)
+
Remote Inspections (2020)
=
Remote Observed Inspections (2021).                 

Our first Remote Observed Inspections (ROIs) were intended to help newer CNG members (observers) learn from more experienced farmers how to conduct a peer-review inspection. They were surprisingly well-received, as we reported here. Yet we also saw how these ROIs could be even more valuable, with a bit more guidance for the Senior Remote Inspectors (SRIs) conducting them. We also realized we'd need many more SRIs in order to host more ROIs, and offer enough observer seats to satisfy interested members. So this winter, we developed a new educational offering. 

CNG's new Peer-Review Training teaches the fundamentals of what it takes to conduct a robust peer-review inspection. At the heart of the training is a two hour class, short videos, and a series of quizzes based on the class and two Study Guides. Farmers who complete these elements may enter the final stage: receiving a practical assessment with individual feedback, observing an ROI, and then ultimately conducting an ROI and debriefing afterwards.

While the training was initially designed for developing Senior Remote Inspectors, the curriculum will be used for the benefit of all CNG producers, and the class will be offered again to a broader swath of the CNG membership later this year. But already we've accomplished so much.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

We are so excited to share a fresh series of videos about the Certified Naturally Grown community!

With extraordinary editing and videography help from Steve Merkel of Vegetable Power Farm in Pennsylvania, along with a handful of other outstanding CNG producers, we've compiled videos of different lengths to share what Certified Naturally Grown is all about: peer-review certification, ecological practices, transparency, and advocacy.

They're a great resource to introduce your community to our grassroots group and share your pride to be a part of this participatory certification.

Can you help us share these clips throughout your network?

• Share the videos on Facebook to tell your community you're #CNGproud
  • Share the 8 minute video (our favorite!)
  • Share the 60 second video
  • Share the 30 second video
• Embed the videos on your website to introduce your customers and others to your certification
  • When watching on YouTube.com, click the SHARE button on the lower right side of the video screens then click Embed to copy and paste the code for your site. Email us if you have any questions about this process, as it's a bit high-tech (but very effective!). 
• Share the video links by email or text message with farmers who would be a good fit for the CNG community, or anyone else who's new to Certified Naturally Grown: your farmers market manager, your CSA members, your employees, your local faith leader, your mother-in-law, your barber...you get the idea!
  • 8 minute video link (again, it's our favorite!)
  • 60 second video link
  • 30 second video link
• Email us to receive the raw video files to share as Instagram posts

Endless thanks to the following producers who poured their time, energy, and enthusiasm into creating their community-sourced footage for these clips:
A Gardens Glory, FL
Bee Boys, HI
Caribe United Farm, GA
J and L Farm & Stables, GA
New Way Aquaponic Farms, TN
Tooth of the Lion Farm and Apothecary, PA
Valhalla Organics, OR
Vegetable Power Farm, PA

You can watch all of the videos after the jump.

Don't forget to share!

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

One of the main reasons farmers join Certified Naturally Grown is to highlight a commitment to producing food for the local community without synthetic chemicals or GMOs.

And one of the main ways we help them do that is by giving each CNG producer a free profile on our website!

Once farmers get certified, they instantly gain a profile on our searchable map!