Produce & Flowers Certification

While most of our certified producers have their entire operation certified, there are some situations where a farmer hasn’t managed to grow certain crops according to CNG standards (stone fruits or grapes are especially challenging in many areas). It is possible to exclude some crops from certification, and have other crops get CNG certified. We just ask that it be made clear which is which during marketing, and that everything is explained clearly on the farm’s public profile on the CNG website.

Please review our Considerations for Flower Growers documentation. If you have any questions or concerns, please email certification@naturallygrown.org

Please review our Top Tips for Microgreens Growers page. If you have any questions or concerns, please email certification@naturallygrown.org

Yes, we consider the paper chain pots to be compostable, in the same category as paper mulches. Learn more about our stance on paper pot transplanters and biofilm.  

To manage fertility on their farm, CNG farmers use management practices like cover crops and crop rotations, and organic amendments such as compost, manure, fish emulsion, soybean meal, feather and bone meal, and unprocessed minerals. Synthetic fertilizers are not allowed. 

CNG encourages mechanical and cultural methods as the first line of defense against weeds, pests, and diseases. When those methods don’t solve the issue, most botanical and biological controls, such as ladybugs, BT, neem, or kayolin clay, are also allowed. (Rotenone is a notable exception; though it is an unprocessed botanical, it has been linked to Parkinson’s Disease.) As a general rule, most OMRI-approved products meet CNG standards. No synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides are allowed.

o meet CNG standards potting mix can’t contain synthetic ingredients such as chemical fertilizers or synthetic wetting agents. Commercial potting mixes frequently contain one or both of these, so it’s important to check the ingredient list carefully if you purchase potting mix. If you are able, making your own potting mix gives you more control over the ingredients.

Generally, CNG producers must use seed that is organically grown, whether CNG, Certified Organic, or uncertified whenever they are available. But, if a producer is unable to find the variety they need in organically grown form after checking with at least three suppliers, CNG allows an exception for a farmer to use conventionally grown seed, just as long as it is not chemically treated or genetically engineered. This same rule applies to seed potatoes, onion sets, and sweet potato slips.

Transplants must be grown without synthetic fertilizers, wetting agents, or pesticides, and with seeds that meet CNG standards. When purchasing transplants, sometimes it can be difficult to tell how transplants were grown. The best ways to ensure that transplants meet CNG requirements is growing them yourself if you are able, or communicating directly with the transplant grower about their practices. For perennials that were started conventionally, they can be considered fully CNG after 12 months under CNG management.

It is important for CNG farmers to have an adequate buffer to protect their fields from potential sources of contamination. The appropriate size of the buffer depends on the context, including factors like prevailing wind patterns, the elevation and slope of the land, and what the neighboring land uses are. Typically, we look for a minimum distance of 20 feet to crops like a fertilized hayfield, field corn and soybeans, while a buffer of 50 feet is required for crops such as sweet corn. A buffer may need to be somewhat larger if for example the growing area is located downhill or downwind, or it may need to be quite a bit larger if you are located next to crops that are sprayed aerially. 

Treated wood isn’t allowed for new construction where it will come into contact with the soil, though existing wood can be grandfathered in. If you’re looking for alternatives, you might consider naturally rot-resistant wood, such as cedar, black locust, black walnut, or white oak; materials like concrete, plastic or steel; or wood-plastic composites, as long as they do not contain fungicides. 

The CNG label may be used on packaging only if the following two conditions are met:

1. It states clearly on the label which ingredients are CNG certified (for example, “made with Certified Naturally Grown tomatoes” or “Ingredients: tomatoes*, onions, basil*, olive oil, salt, pepper   *Certified Naturally Grown ingredients”), AND 
2. At least one of the two main ingredients is CNG (so for example, the label could not be used for a jar of salsa where only the garlic is CNG, but not the tomatoes)

CNG certifies raw agricultural products, and minimally processed products like honey and maple. We’ve set the following policies to address questions about labeling from members who create value-added products from their CNG crops. 

• The CNG label may only be used on products where the majority of inputs by volume are CNG certified ingredients. Common examples are Sauerkraut, pickles, and jams. 
• If the majority of ingredients are not CNG, then the CNG logo may not be placed on the packaging, but the member has the option to indicate which of the product’s ingredients is Certified Naturally Grown. For example, a tomato sauce where only the basil is CNG, but not the tomatoes, may not use the logo but the ingredient list may indicate Certified Naturally Grown basil, or use an asterisk to indicate which ingredients are CNG certified.

Some value-added products require major ingredients that aren’t available in CNG certified form, like oils and alcohol, in which case there’s more flexibility with using the CNG label. 

• Tinctures: May use the CNG label if the majority of plant ingredients are CNG. 
• Salves and Infused Oils: May use the CNG label if the plant ingredients are CNG, and the oils are certified organic. Honey and beeswax should also be from a CNG apiary. 
• If a particular plant ingredient is sometimes organic, and sometimes CNG, then the specific situation should be discussed with CNG. If a particular plant ingredient is sometimes CNG and sometimes conventional, then it may not be indicated that the ingredient is sometimes CNG.

We discovered that there are very few commercially viable hydroponic operations that rely on natural fertility sources. The NOP has recently begun to certify hydroponic operation and allowed the use of synthetic, OMRI-listed nutrient solutions. CNG does not allow the use of these synthetic nutrient solutions. While we have heard from a few hydroponic producers who are confident it can be done, at this time the number and track record of such producers is too small to justify developing a whole new certification program. 

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.

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 see if they’re a good fit with your practices, and get in touch if you have any questions. 

In order to determine if an input is allowed for use in your CNG operation, go through the following steps.

1. Is the product OMRI-listed?
   • If yes, you’re good to go! (Note that we do not allow rotenone or synthetic hydroponic fertilizer solutions, even though they are OMRI-listed).
   • If no, move onto the next step.
2. Obtain the ingredient list and check that each ingredient is OMRI-listed and/or on the CNG Allowed & Prohibited Substances list. 
3. .If each ingredient is listed, you’re all good!
   • If one or more of the ingredients is not listed or on the prohibited list the product is not allowed.

You can always reach out to the CNG certification specialist if you need help: certification@naturallygrown.org

CNG requires that growers have one year of experience producing and selling their products before applying for certification. We look for practices to be tried and tested to ensure that growing methods are successful and sustainable. Let us know that you’re interested in certification; we’d love to help support you in your first year of production! Email certifications@naturallygrown.org

CNG’s compost standards are based on National Organic Program, EPA, and FDA guidelines for food safety. If a farmer wants to apply farm-produced compost that includes manure, they’ll need to monitor the initial C:N ratio, take temperature readings, and turn the pile often to ensure that their compost is properly finished. It’s very common that farmers with smaller compost systems cannot meet the compost requirements, since it’s difficult to maintain temperatures in smaller piles. In this case, farmers just apply their compost by following the 90/120 “manure rule” or apply it only to non-produce crops (hay, landscape, pasture, cover crop, etc.).

Like our compost standards, CNG’s manure requirements are based on National Organic Program, EPA, and FDA guidelines for food safety. For applications of manure, we require the following intervals between manure application and crop harvest:

–120 day interval for crops in which the edible portion is in contact with the soil (i.e. carrots, lettuce, radishes, bush beans, etc.)

–90 day interval for crops in which the edible portion is not in contact with the soil (i.e. trellised tomatoes, fruit trees, sweet corn, pole beans, etc.)

No application period is required for non-edible crops like cut flowers, hay, and cover crop.

If you are purchasing your compost, you’ll want to verify with your supplier that the compost is:

–properly composted (i.e. they are monitoring the C:N ratio, temperatures, and turning schedule)

–not made from biosolids

–free from prohibited additions of synthetic fertilizers

Just a simple phone call or email to your supplier is sufficient.

Synthetic micronutrients may only be used for fertility, they must be OMRI-listed, and there must be a documented deficiency in the form of a soil or tissue test. Remember to ask: 

Is this micronutrient…

1. …being applied for crop/soil fertility?
2. …OMRI-listed?
3. …documented by a soil or tissue test?

Therefore, even if a producer is using an OMRI-listed synthetic micronutrient they must ALSO document the need for the deficiency in order to use the product. 

This applies to the following nutrients:

• Boron
• Zinc
• Copper
• Iron
• Manganese
• Molybdenum
• Selenium
• Cobalt