What is Certified Naturally Grown?

Short answer: Certified Naturally Grown is the grassroots alternative to being Certified Organic. CNG vendors have organically operated farms who must follow the National Organic Program standards and only use OMRI listed products, same as the Certified Organic program – no synthetic chemicals, synthetic pesticides, or GMOs.

However, CNG farmers go through an alternate certification process that focuses on small-scale operations and family farms, not corporate conglomerates.

CNG farms are inspected by other certified organic farmers, who appreciate the Certified Naturally Grown program being rooted in community with a focus on networking and local accountability.

Also, the Certified Organic label allows certain NON-ORGANIC synthetic chemicals to be used in organic operations when comparable organic counterparts do not exist… one of the many ways we personally felt the Certified Organic label was more interested in Big Ag and profits instead of the commitment we’ve made on our farm to produce sustainable, clean food.

Those synthetic chemicals are NOT allowed to be used by CNG operations – big difference!

There are people who are beginning to doubt the integrity of the Certified Organic label which is a shame, as the idea is both necessary and important for consumers to know what they’re purchasing…

Here’s an example – fire blight in apple orchards is a widespread problem… so it was decided the Certified Organic operations would be able to use the synthetic antibiotics streptomycin and oxytetracycline to combat the disease… but when I think I know what I’m buying when I pick up Certified Organic apples, do I realize exactly what I’m eating? Synthetic antibiotics/chemicals are not allowable under the CNG label – and that’s one reason my husband and I chose to become Certified Naturally Grown, instead of Certified Organic.

Another thing we liked? CNG requires 50ft buffers around your property to try to keep your certified produce or livestock as far away as possible from your conventional neighbors, and their possible spray drift contaminating your livelihood.

The Certified Organic program only requires 25 ft… and as most organic operators share borders with large-scale conventional farmers, CNG realizes farmers must be diligent in preserving as much space as possible, which is why we maintain a thick fencerow of trees and bushes. 50ft is even double the insurance against a spray happy, irresponsible neighbor who seeks to eradicate dandelions from the face of the planet.

Out of our 21 acres, we’ve had to take almost 2 full acres out of production so our 50 ft buffers would compensate for the possible contamination we hope to never receive from our neighbors… when you make your living from your land, a 10% loss of available crop ground is massively impactful. We use those buffers for pollinators, wildlife habit and horse hay.

CNG’s peer-reviewed inspections seek to drive producers to surpass the current expectations, for the sake of food safety and transparency, as the goal is to provide a healthy, happy, sustainable food system.