Why Certified Naturally Grown is a Game-Changer for Small Farms

At We3Wolves, we’re passionate about sustainable, natural growing practices and Certified Naturally Grown (CNG), is a certification program that empowers small-scale farmers to produce high-quality, eco-friendly food while fostering community and affordability. In this post, we’ll explore what CNG is, why it often surpasses USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified certifications.

What is Certified Naturally Grown?

Certified Naturally Grown, launched in 2002, is a grassroots certification tailored for small-scale farmers and beekeepers who sell directly to local markets, such as farmers’ markets, CSAs, or farm stands. CNG upholds standards as rigorous as the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP), banning synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs while prioritizing soil health, biodiversity, and humane livestock practices. What sets CNG apart is its peer-review inspection model, where farmers evaluate each other’s operations, promoting transparency and community collaboration. 

Why CNG Outshines USDA Organic and Non-GMO

While USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified certifications have their merits, CNG offers distinct advantages for small farms and conscious consumers. Here’s an unbiased look at why CNG stands out:

1. Affordability for Small-Scale Farmers

• USDA Organic: Certification costs can range from $750 to $3,000 annually, even with USDA’s 75% cost-share program, and require extensive documentation. The process, which includes a three-year transition period without synthetic inputs, can take six months or more, posing a barrier for small farms with limited resources.
• Non-GMO Project Verified: Focused solely on GMO avoidance with a 0.9% contamination threshold which does allow a margin for pesticide use, it also requires ongoing product testing, adding costs without addressing broader sustainability practices. It’s also product-specific, not farm-wide and can be ever changing without the same standards being upheld.
• CNG Advantage: With fees as low as $110-$250 per year and a streamlined peer-review process, CNG is far more affordable and accessible. Certification can be completed in as little as two months, enabling farmers to quickly market their products as sustainably grown, making it ideal for small operations.

2. Community-Driven Peer Inspections

• USDA Organic: Third-party inspectors ensure compliance but are often disconnected from local farming communities and prohibited from offering advice, creating a formal, sometimes impersonal process and only follow the USDA ever changing standard.
• Non-GMO Project Verified: Lacks a farm-level focus, as it verifies individual products rather than holistic practices, missing the community engagement aspect.
• CNG Advantage: The peer-review system fosters collaboration, as farmers inspect each other’s operations, sharing knowledge and building local networks. Farmers like Mike Noreen of Iowa praise CNG’s community-driven approach, which strengthens trust and supports practical improvements, as seen in inspections across Florida’s farming communities.

3. Emphasis on Sustainability

• USDA Organic: While it prohibits SOME synthetic inputs and GMOs, it permits practices like polyethylene mulch, which can leave plastic residue in soil, and is often geared toward large-scale producers selling to wholesalers, not local markets.
• Non-GMO Project Verified: Focuses narrowly on GMO avoidance, neglecting broader environmental concerns like soil health & regeneration, water conservation, or biodiversity.
• CNG Advantage: CNG prioritizes regenerative practices, such as approving non-GMO, bio diverse natural mulches for sustainability. Tailored for direct-market farmers, it reduces environmental impact by encouraging local sales, which studies show can be more eco-friendly than globally shipped organic produce. This aligns with the growing demand for low-carbon, locally sourced food.

4. Transparency and Consumer Trust

• USDA Organic: A widely recognized label, but its credibility can be diluted by large-scale producers exploiting loopholes, such as weaker animal welfare standards, leading some consumers to question its authenticity.
• Non-GMO Project Verified: Builds trust in GMO avoidance but lacks the comprehensive standards of organic or CNG certifications, limiting its scope.
• CNG Advantage: CNG’s transparent, publicly accessible records and peer inspections ensure integrity. Farmers like Jennifer Duensing of Illinois Country Harvest note that CNG’s local trust model resonates strongly with customers at farmers’ markets, offering a direct connection to the farm’s practices.

5. Flexibility for Diverse Farms

• USDA Organic: Its ever changing standards and high costs can be prohibitive for diverse, small-scale farms experimenting with innovative methods.
• Non-GMO Project Verified: Limited to GMO-free verification, it doesn’t accommodate farms with varied production goals, such as mixed crops or livestock.
• CNG Advantage: CNG supports a range of farm types, from vegetable gardens to apiaries, with flexible standards that encourage innovation while maintaining rigor. This makes it ideal for small farms exploring unique models, like community-supported micro-farms.

We3Wolves’ Support for CNG and Its Members

CNG has the power to transform small-scale agriculture, and for We3Wolves, we actively support CNG farmers by promoting their values through our farm-to-table operations and advocating for their success and adopt ability.

Certified Naturally Grown represents a movement toward accessible, sustainable, and community-focused farming. Its affordability, peer-driven model, and emphasis on regenerative practices make it a superior choice for small farms compared to the costly, bureaucratic USDA Organic program or the narrowly focused Non-GMO Project. CNG empowers farmers to deliver high-quality, eco-friendly food while building trust with local consumers.

Get Involved: Explore our farm-fresh offerings at we3wolves.com. For farmers seeking to optimize their CNG operations, contact us for a consultation.