Certified Naturally Grown offers a low-cost, farmer-driven certification option for small-scale producers seeking to demonstrate sustainable practices without the high expense and administrative burden of USDA organic certification.
Harshawn Ratanpal reports for KBIA.
In short:
- Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) provides small farms with a peer-reviewed, affordable certification process modeled after USDA organic standards.
- Farmers like Jennifer Duensing say the simpler process and lower cost of CNG reduce barriers, especially for farms under 10 acres.
- CNG faces challenges in recognition and trust compared to the USDA label but is working to expand awareness through federal grants and outreach.
Key quote:
“A lot of farmers are committed to ecological practices, and probably would qualify for organic certification, but they hesitate because of the expense and also the paperwork.”
— Alice Varon, executive director of Certified Naturally Grown
Why this matters:
The rising demand for sustainable food often leaves small farms struggling with certification costs and bureaucracy. Accessible alternatives like CNG can support eco-friendly agriculture while helping small producers remain viable in competitive markets.
Read more: Organic produce: is it worth the cost?
