For farmers who are interested in certification, but have a history of chemical use on their land, transitional status will be required. Like the National Organic Program, we require a 36-month transitional period starting at the last use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, but CNG handles this transition period differently from other programs. CNG farmers with transitional status are considered full members and have full membership benefits (including online profile, access to marketing materials, use of the CNG logo, etc.). Their online applications have a “Transitional” label and the application includes details about the history of chemical use on the land. This is our way of balancing full information for customers, while giving farmers full recognition for their current practices.