Certified Naturally Grown

[1] CNG was founded in 2002 by organic farmers Kate and Ron Khosla, as a simpler to administer and less expensive alternative to the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) certification, using a production standard based on the NOP.

[4] According to Ron Khosla, CNG was created as reaction to the legislating of organic production in the US in 2002: Farmers that have proudly referred to themselves as "Organic" for decades were not permitted to do so after October 21, 2002, unless certified by a USDA-sanctioned agency.

Today, most family farmers that continue to grow organic are not certified by the USDA.

[5]Certified Naturally Grown farmers are required to submit to an annual inspection.

[6] Inspection procedures and forms can be perused and downloaded, and completed applications and signed declarations are available for public viewing, on the CNG web site.