Know Your Farmer Videos
There are currently over 1,000 farms certified according to the Real Organic Project standards. Each of these family farms has demonstrated their commitment to growing food in living soils and raising their animals on pasture.
You can sign up here to be notified when new videos are released. To apply for Real Organic Project certification and get your own Know Your Farmer video, submit an application today.
The Elzingas developed a system of intensive and intentional herding at Alderspring Ranch to restore the native ecology and provide their cattle with the most diverse diet possible. If you get the chance to order meat from their online store you'll have a taste of the nutritional density of Idaho's the beautiful Pahsimeroi Valley.
Click here to view the Alderspring Ranch Know Your Farmer page
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King Grove Organic Farm
Florida
Hugh & Lisa Kent talk about the destructive impact of hydroponics on organic berry farmers and consumer decision making, and stewardship of the soil and planet.
Click here for the King Grove Organic Farm Know Your Farmer Page
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A-Frame Farm
Minnesota
Carmen Fernholtz of A-Frame Farm talks about what is important when it comes to Organic Farming. Organics were founded on principles and proper practices.
“Do organic not because the price is better, but because it's the right thing to do for the soil for society and for yourself.”
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Greener Pastures Chicken
Texas
Greener Pastures Chicken believes that truly organic practices can be maintained and are even scalable. While some corporate chicken operations are taking advantage of subpar animal husbandry practices, Cameron Molberg is committed to keeping his birds comfortable and on lush pasture — It's better for the animals, the food quality, and it builds more fertile, carbon sequestering soil. Click here for the the Greener Pastures Chicken Know Your Farmer Page
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Swanton Berry Farm
California
Jim Cochran of Swanton Berry Farm discusses the agricultural labor situation in California, and what he is doing about it. Jim values his employees even more than his 10 acres of strawberries. Housing and year round employment are just some of the benefits Jim’s employees enjoy. Click here for the the Swanton Berry Farm Know Your Farmer Page
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Butterworks Farm
Vermont
Butterworks Farm's 100% grass-fed Jersey cows bring premium organic dairy products to the market including yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, and heavy cream. In addition to producing delicious food, they are committed to using their land and livestock to sequester as much carbon as possible. Click here for the the Butterworks Farm Know Your Farmer Page
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Park Farming Organics
California
The Park family grows tomatoes for organic processors including Muir Glen and Bianco DiNapoli (well-renowned as some of the best canned tomatoes on the market). The flavor, they admit, comes from their cover cropping and other robust soil management practices.
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Full Moon Farm
Vermont
Rachel Nevitt and David Zuckerman own and operate Full Moon Farm in Vermont, where they grow a delicious variety of produce, including melons, sweet corn, and heirloom tomatoes. When David isn't farming, he's representing the state of Vermont as Lieutenant Governor. In a rally in Thetford, Vermont, David announced, “Organic without soil is like democracy without people.” Click here to view the Full Moon Farm Know Your Farmer page
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Skokomish Valley Farms
Washington
Paul Miller admits that his electrical engineering degree, computer science degree, and 20 years as a fighter pilot didn't exactly prepare him for becoming an organic farmer. He was able to make up for lost time through conferences, reading books by some of the organic farming pioneers, and a garden that he was able to grow while stationed in Misawa, Japan Watch the Skokomish Valley Farms Video
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Misty Meadows Organic Eggs
Washington
Want to know the secret to flavorful eggs (hint: it comes before the salt and pepper)? It's giving the chickens ample amounts of pasture and access to bugs, sunshine, dust baths, and all other things that the birds love. Mark and Melissa keep animal happiness and natural behavior at the center of their practices, and the proof is in the product! Watch the Misty Meadows Video
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Frey Vineyards
California
The Frey family has been farming in Redwood Valley, California since 1980. Eliza Frey, winemaker at Frey Vineyards, says that healthy and diverse soil profiles are the basis of their wine quality.
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Pete's Greens
Vermont
Pete Johnson of Pete's Greens in Vermont's North East Kingdom is a leader in both organic farming and in the ongoing conversation around enforcing USDA standards, especially for the pasture rule. Pete serves on the Real Organic Project's standards board and is a strong voicefor animal welfare and enforcing rules that can prevent large-scale dairy operations from undercutting small family farms. Watch the Pete's Greens Video.
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The Milkhouse
Maine
The Milkhouse Dairy Farm and Creamery in Maine milks a small herd of 30-35 rotationally grazed cows. Due to their desire to sell their milk and yogurt to local consumers and processors in their community, they've recently been notified that their contract with Horizon Organics will be terminated. Listen as farmers Caitlin Frame and Andy Smith tell their story and share a glimpse of life on their farm. Watch the Milkhouse Video.
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JM Fortier – La Ferme des Quatre-Temps
Hemmingford, Québec
From Farmers and “Organic Experts”: Jean-Martin Fortier doesn’t need to be certified with the Canadian Organic Growers. But he is. He doesn’t need to be certified with the Real Organic Project. But he is. Selling all of his crops directly to eaters and restaurants, JM is a living example of Know Your Farmer. He is already seen by his customers as a skilled organic farmer growing the highest quality food. Watch the Quatre-Temps Video.
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Legend Organic
Saskatchewan
Real Organic Project interview with Stuart McMillan of Legend Organic Farm and Dag Falck of Nature's Path. Legend Organic grows grain for use in the production of Nature's Path foods, such as cereals and snacks. A large-scale producer, Nature's Path is 100% committed to true organic practices. Making a point to become a certified grower and land steward, the company can now see their food through all phases of production for their customers. Watch the Legend Organic Video.
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Durst Organic Growers
California
Jim Durst, farm director at Durst Organic Growers, was a member of the California organic certification board when the organic standards for CCOF were first being debated and written. In his “Know Your Farmer” video, Jim explains that agriculture should be built upon the premise that the soil brings us life. Click here to view the Durst Organic Growers Know Your Farmer page
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Happy Hollow Farm
Missouri
Liz Graznak, owner of Happy Hollow Farm, explains that community supported agriculture is her way of being a political force. Her CSA members participate on the farm through distribution shifts and farm work days. Click here to view the Happy Hollow Farm Know Your Farmer Page
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Emerald Veil Jerseys
Oregon
Bob Bansen has 200 milking cows on his 500-acre farm. During the grazing season, 100% of the cows' diet comes from what they forage on pasture. Bob explains that the consolidation of dairy into large operations is making it very difficult for the small family dairies to stay in business, despite their deep desire to continue farming. Thankfully, Organic Valley continues to support them and buy their high-quality milk. Watch the Emerald Veil Farm Video
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Ole Brook Organics
Mississippi
Former National Organic Standards Board member Jesse Buie speaks about the practices he uses on his Mississippi farm, as well as the disappointment he expereinced watching hydroponics enter the National Organic Program. Watch the Ole Brook Organics Video.
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Three Springs Farm
Oklahoma
Emily Oakley and Mike Appel discuss their choice to grow as much of their own fertility as possible on their farm, in an effort to reduce using the non-sustainable resources that remain acceptable in the organic standards. Watch the Three Springs Farm Video.
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JSM Organics
California
Javier Zamora of JSM Organics in Royal Oaks, California shares his thoughts on Real Organic growing in soil, the importance of knowing your farmer, and his approach to a high quality of life for his employees. Well-known throughout California, his openness and warmth have gained him a reputation in organic farming nationwide. Watch the JSM Organics Know Your Farmer Video.
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Full Belly Farm
California
Full Belly Farm grows over 80 different organic crops on 400 acres of land in northern California. With a sharp focus on biodiversity, the farm plants large swaths for pollinators and produces their own fertility on-site by cover cropping. Multiple generations share ownership and manage year-round labor on the farm. Watch the Full Belly Farm Video.
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Flynn Farms
Washington
Savannah Flynn manages 2.5 acres of mixed vegetables in Everson, Washington, an area that she classifies as a Food Desert, with plans to expand to 6 acres in 2020. She learned to grow vegetables using organic techniques from her mother, as they were living in poverty in Northern California during her childhood. Savannah's enthusaism for growing is infectious. Watch the Flynn Farms Video.
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Ela Family Farms
Colorado
Steve Ela of Ela Family Farms in Hotchkiss, CO shares how he manages his organic perennial fruit orchard with a holistic eye. Grateful for the long view that a multi-year crop like trees gives the grower, Steve and family implement highly sophisticated low-impact practices that “benefit the commons” rather than polluting. Watch the Ela Family Farms Video.
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Footprint Farm
Vermont
After studying health-related subjects in college, Taylor and Jake Mendell settled in Vermont and started farming with the goal of getting young kids to start eating healthy foods as early as possible. Now, they see the challenge of getting customers to understand the difference between their food, “farmers market organic” vs. the more diluted “supermarket organic.” Watch the Footprint Farm Video
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Hawthorne Valley
New York
Spencer Fenniman of Hawthorne Valley Farm in New York's Hudson Valley talks about farming organically and with biodynamic practices. Originally a dairy farm, in 1972 Hawthorne Valley opened as a farm for local Waldorf School kids to come experience biodynamics. Today, the dairy operation is affected by the recetn changes in USDA organic. Watch the Hawthorne Valley Video
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Roxbury Farm
New York
Jean-Paul Courtens of Roxbury farm integrates grazing systems and multi-species cover cropping into his organic vegetable production to increase soil biological activity and minimize the use of off-farm inputs. He is optimistic in the face of climate change through his experiments in carbon sequestration on his own land. Watch the Roxbury Farm Video.
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Radiance Dairy
Iowa
Francis Thicke is a former National Organic Standards Board member and USDA soil scientist. He milks 90 dairy cows, processing his milk and yogurt on the farm and selling it all locally. Learn how rich prairie soils can be built through proper management of rotational grazing. Watch the Radiance Dairy Video.
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Urban Sprout Farms
Atlanta
Nuri Icgoren at Urban Sprout, a biodynamic farm in Atlanta, has his eye on building community and getting more nutrients into the diet of his neighbors. At Urban Sprout he hosts festivals, school groups, documentary screenings, yoga classes, and community dinners, all while growing a variety of nutrient-dense vegetables. Watch the Urban Sprout Farms Know Your Farmer video.
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Wheatfield Hill Organics
Wisconsin
Helen Kees, born and raised on the same family farm she works on today with her grandson in Wisconsin, discusses her relationship with the land and how small farms keep dollars circulating in the local economy. Watch the Wheatfield Hill Organics Video.
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Spiral Path
Pennsylvania
Mike grows organic produce on 300 acres near Harrisburg, PA with his wife Terra and sons Lucas and Will, relying on trusted soil building techniques for over 30 years. He is passionate about not allowing hydroponic fruits and vegetables to use the USDA Organic label and is shocked that our government has enabled the United States to become the hydroponic “dumping ground for the world.” Although many hydroponic vegetables are grown in Europe, Mexico, and Canada, they are forbidden to be labeled organic in the countries where they’re grown!Watch the Spiral Path Farm Video.
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Village Acres Farm + Food Shed
Pennsylvania
As the current executive director of PASA (Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture), Hannah Smith-Brubaker knows the organic label should be about building soil “and there isn’t in my mind a debate about that!”Hannah and her partner Debra Brubaker operate Village Acres Farm and FoodShed, a 35-acre diversified operation that has been certified organic for over 25 years. Watch the Village Acres Know Your Farmer Video.
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UProoted Farm
Michigan
Jonathan Parsons is a first-year, first-generation farmer who designed his 80-acre UProoted farm in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to be organic from the get-go. He feels lucky to be producing vegetables for the caring community of Marquette and to be farming in a place where land is still affordable for young farmers like himself. Watch the UProoted Farm Know Your Farmer Video.
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The Martin Family Farm
Michigan
As an organic farmer, Matt Martin has developed a simple philosophy over his life: give back to the Earth. Pretty simple, right? Matt and family have been farming organically in Armada, Michigan since 2004 and feel strongly about the role of soil in a healthy farming system Watch the Martin Family Farm Video.
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Many Hands Organic Farm
Massachusetts
Jack Kittredge and Julie Rawson are organic pioneers known throughout New England (and beyond) not just for their farming, but also for their committment to organized activism. Julie is the longtime Executive Director of NOFA-Mass, while Jack publishes NOFA's quarterly journal, The Natural Farmer. Watch the Many Hands Farm Video.
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Engelbert Farm
New York
Lisa and Kevin Engelbert, along with their sons Joe and John, have run Engelbert Farms in Nichols, New York organically since 1981. The family earns their income by producing milk for the Organic Valley coop, as well as from cheese, meat, and vegetable sales direct to their local customers. Watch the Engelbert Farm Know Your Farmer Video.
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Hobbs & Meyer
Colorado
Dan and Nanna of Hobbs & Meyer Farms in Avondale, Colorado grow heritage grains, garlic, pepper and seeds adapted to the arid Southwest. For them, the organic label has been invaluable. They sell their heirloom seed to National seed companies and their produce to big chains such as Whole Foods and Natural Grocers and are passionately involved in training the next generation of farmers on their own farm. Watch the Hobbs & Meyer Farm Video.
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McCluskey Brothers
Wisconsin
The McCluskey Brothers take pride in the fact that their cows only eat two things: the mother cows' milk and healthy pasture. In addition to making delicious cheeses, they produce maple syrup and manage a beef cattle herd. Watch the McCluskey Brothers Farm Video
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High Meadows Farm
Vermont
Vermont farmer Howie Prussack describes his mixed veggie operation, High Meadows Farm, and his love for growing food in the soil. He uses techniques such as cover cropping and landscape fabric to keep the soil covered on his hilly acreage. Organic matter in his soil has increased significantly in the years he has been farming. He touches on the importance of small farms in maintaining the health of rural communities across America. Watch the High Meadows Farm Video.
Vermont Farmers Speak Out
Summer 2019
Vermont
In 2019, over 40 Vermont farmers (and counting!) became certified with the Real Organic Project! This thoughtful group was also willing to share their opinions and concerns about the National Organic Program with us, as we traveled around from farm to farm. Watch the Vermont Farmers Speak Out video.