Organic farmers and Whole Foods have reached an agreement over the market's "Responsibly Grown" program.

Last year, Whole Foods announced it would put into place a grading system for its produce suppliers, including a holistic set of standards. Conservation methods, farm workers' welfare, soil considerations and pesticide use are just a few of the areas taken into consideration when assigning ratings to produce.

One unintended consequence, according to co-CEO John Mackey, was decreased ratings for small, organic farms.

In an open letter to Mackey, five organic farmers argued that customers would be confused by the new rating standard.

For instance, conventional produce would be graded "best" alongside organic produce rated "good." The farmers argued that Whole Foods has always supported organic farming, but this system seems to value cheaper, conventionally grown produce over organic.

Mackey put into effect several remedies for the "Responsibly Grown" rating standard:

• Organic produce starts at "good" (effective January 1, 2016). All organic produce cannot receive a lower rating than that.
• Whole Foods will clearly label its conventional produce and flowers.
• Certified organic produce will be given a special bump in points.
• Whole Foods will better support its suppliers through training and will ensure the existing relationship the company has built with farmers will remain in place.

Read More:

• Organic Farmers Call Foul On Whole Foods' Produce Rating System (NPR)
• Organic Farmers and Whole Foods Reach Ceasefire Over 'Responsbily Grown' Ratings (Civil Eats)
• An Update to our Responsibly Grown Ratings System (Whole Foods)