Cedar Meadow Farm owner Steve Groff expects to receive certification by Regenified, one of the leading verification standards for regenerative produce and products, and one of only three recognized by Whole Foods Market, this summer. The testing of his soil in May was “off-the-charts positive,” he says, and one of the best ever seen by the Regenefied experts. With this verification, Groff ’s produce will display the Regenified mark at wholesaler locations, and his cannabidiol (CBD) will be among the first on the market that Regenified has labeled.

Regenerative farming practices and the companies requiring them are increasingly on the rise. They are evaluated on outcomes-based data versus process-based, which is how organic practices are measured. For example, the nutrient density of produce is measured and tested. The rigorous verification process includes factors such as soil health, consistency of living roots, percentage of ground cover, beneficial insects, speed of water infiltration and aggregate soil stability.