The CNG label is most useful for producers who market directly, through CSAs, farmers markets, and local food businesses. If you’re planning to sell to large retail outlets or wholesalers, the national organic program might be a better fit. Some…
The very talented Cecilia Garvin, who was a CSA member of the founding farmers, donated her skills to create the vibrant image that anchors CNG's marketing materials.
CNG was founded by farmers in the mid-Hudson Valley in 2002, the same year the National Organic Program took effect.
You'll want to be very careful about your choice of substrate; it can't include byproducts of genetically engineered agricultural crops (like most cottonseed hulls and soy meal). You'll need to have a clean water source, too. Review the standards to…
Mushrooms are not grown in soil and behave differently than plants. Separate standards were needed to provide more meaningful guidance for production of this distinct type of crop.
Certified Naturally Grown is a Participatory Guarantee System, or “PGS”, and as such relies on peer reviews instead of third-party inspections. We do not hire inspectors. With CNG, it’s other producers, typically ones who are Certified Naturally Grown, who conduct…
Since Certified Naturally Grown does not require any particular design or kind of system, it is not possible to set very specific standards for assessing whether a system is performing functions critical to the overall health of the system. There…
Factors impacting fish health include the following: handling, transport, and harvesting practices; temperature, pH, light levels and stocking densities; feed type and quantity; water quality, filtration and dissolved oxygen; biosecurity and hygiene.
We encourage producers to use feed that is organically grown, and feed that does not contain primary catch. However, because the organic fish feed market is in its early stages, there is limited availability and an extremely high cost barrier.…
Just the plants will be CNG certified. There is only a very small supply of fish feed that would meet CNG standards for livestock certification, and that supply of organic fish feed doesn’t contain fish meal, an ingredient which professional…