Produce Application

Aunt Cindi's Organic Market Center

Owner: Cynthia Bjork

Farm Address:
6134 FM 49
Mineola, TX 75773
Wood County
United States

daytime phone: 903 857 2418
evening phone: same

Application Date: 2007-06-06

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program:	To offer our produce to a wider market w/o being plagued by the USDA organic rules and standards that change at their will accompanied by mounds of paperwork and outrageous fees.
Are you currently third party Certified for your produce operation by any other organization (Organic, Biodynamic, etc)?	no
Have you ever been certified in the past?	no
Have you ever been denied certification?	yes
If yes, please note which agencies, and reasons for denial:	Texas Dept Of Ag. had a change of opinion re: Medina soil activator disallowing the product after it was determined the product was initially approved . I have a letter on file signed by Leslie McKennon with this approval. I used Medina soil activator 2 yrs. prior to my submittal to the USDA. I have not used any soil activators since this date in 2002.
How did you hear about Certified Naturally Grown?	East Texas FRESH Assoc. We are in the process of promoting local, natural produce to the Tyler area via a farmers market.

General Farm Information

Farmland Management and Practices

Primary Tillage System:	initial till with Troybilt. Then we practice no till with the exception on a Mantis for annual raised bed preparation.
Do you use Cover Crops?	yes
If yes, please list:	crimson and elbon rye
Do you use Compost?	yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.):	on farm composted leaves,grass clippings,garden and kitchen waste.
Please list application rates. Give a specific amount or range (for example: one to two tons per acre, ten wheelbarrow loads per 1,000 square feet, or 1-2 inches deep). Do not answer "varies".	2-3 inches deep
Do you use Manure?	no
Please list any other brought in fertility sources that you use (specific rock powders, lime, soybean / alfalfa meal, specific purchased pre-mixes, etc)and how often it's used. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient/s.	clay phosphate, greensand,alfalfa meal, humates, kelp meal, fish/seaweed
Have any chemical fertilizers been applied to the fields you are seeking Certification for in the last three years (36 months)?	no
Have any non-acceptable pesticides and/or herbicides been applied to these fields in the last 3 years?	no
Do you use Professional Soil Testing services?	yes
Describe your primary weed problems and methods of control. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient(s), what kind of product it is (a soap, microbial, oil, a botanical...), and how often it's used.	manual pulling,20% vinegar and heavy mulching
Describe your primary insect problems and methods of control. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient/s, what kind of product it is (a soap, microbial, oil, a botanical...), and how often it's used.	aphids,squash bugs, grasshoppers and various worms Beneficial insects, nematodes, hot pepper/ garlic, Nolo Bait and BT
Describe your primary disease problems and methods of control. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient/s, what kind of product it is (a soap, microbial, oil, a botanical...), and how often it's used.	We try to increase soil fertility to avoid most of the disease problems. We use a little apple cider vinegar and baking soda if necessary
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name:	110' deep water well on site
Are there any known contaminants in the irrigation water?	no
Are you a maple producer who seeks to certify your sugarbush?	no

Seeds, Transplants and Buffers

Do you purchase or grow using any Genetically Modified seeds?	no
Do you use any chemically treated seeds in your operation?	no
Do you grow your own transplants?	yes
Are they grown using Naturally Grown/Organic methods?	yes
If they're not grown according to CNG methods, please list them here. This produce may not be sold as Certified Naturally Grown. (If they are, put "N/A")	N/A
Do you purchase any transplants from outside sources?	no
Chemical/Spray Drift and Buffers:
Is there any likelihood of Chemical/Spray drift contamination of your fields?	no
Do you have an adequate buffer to protect yourself from potential contamination?	yes
Please describe your buffer. Be as specific as possible. On all sides, how far is it from your crops to the next closest use (road, conventional crop, residential yard)? Be sure to specify what is grown on neighboring land that is in agricultural use. For example: To the north and east, a wooded area of at least 100 yards separates us from the neighbor's corn fields, to the south is a fallow field at least 100 yards deep separating us from the road, and to the west about 60 feet separates our crops from a field where conventional corn and soybeans are grown.	2 sides are buffered by neighbors with forest property and not under production. Adjoining eastern property was used for cattle grazing only but currently left dormant. Closest garden is 50' plus from roadside buffered by trees while garden #2 is 100' plus from roadside. We are on county records for a no spray area when they are spraying roadway vegetation.

Agreements

Please indicate your agreement with the following statements by checking the boxes.
I will not label, or in any way lead consumers to believe that produce not raised in accord with CNG standards is Certified Naturally Grown^TM.
I understand that I have to complete at least one (and hopefully more) Certification Inspection(s) of another farm in my area each year, and that the inspection will NOT be of the same farmer that inspected me.
I have reviewed the Certified Naturally Grown certification standards, I understand them, and I will abide by them. I understand that if I have any questions I may contact CNG for clarification.
You may use this space to tell us anything else you think we should know about your farm:	We have a current business incorporated as Pine Mills Distributing Co. dba Aunt Cindi's Organic Market Center. We have provided all natural/organic fertilizers, soil amendents, pest controls,etc. to like minded growers since 1995.