TOPP Mentorship Program Seeks Applicants for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 Cohorts
August 20, 2024
After successful pairings of experienced organic growers with transitioning-to-organic growers in over the last two years, CT NOFA seeks additional applicants for fall 2024 and spring 2025 cohorts of mentor/mentee pairings.
- Fall 2024: mentorship pairings begin November 1
- Spring 2025: mentorship pairings begin April 1
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Find applications links at the bottom of this page.
What is TOPP?
The Northeast/ Mid-Atlantic Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) mentorship program pairs experienced organic producers and producers transitioning to organic, supports the transition process, and creates a stronger network of organic producers across the country. This is a certifier-neutral program. You may be working with any certifier to participate.
Who is TOPP Right For?
Are you an experienced organic grower with knowledge to share? We’d love to hear from you. Certified organic producers may serve as paid mentors, supporting producers throughout the organic transition and certification process.
Are you a grower who is working or wants to work toward certified organic status and would like mentorship during the process? TOPP can offer you free mentorship with an experienced grower who can answer your questions and help guide you through the hurdles presented by the certification process.
TOPP is conducted in partnership with New Connecticut Farmer Alliance and UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources. Learn more about the program here.
How Do I Apply?
Prospective MENTORS – with organic growing experience – can apply here.
Recent Posts
CT NOFA Launches Equipment Share Program
CT NOFA is proud to announce the launch of our Equipment Share Program. In partnership with The Hickories in Ridgefield, Connecticut, this program aims to provide both commercial farmers and home gardeners free access to both specialized equipment and expertise in a shared environment. Equipment Share days at The Hickories will include free soil analysis, seed winnowing services, nut cleaning, compost tea brewing workshops, and much more.
Advocacy News: May 2026
The Good News: CT Senator Chris Murphy has introduced a bill (bipartisan and bicameral) to increase funding for Agricultural Management Assistance to $30 million and to expand the eligible uses for these funds to include “soil health improvements, composting, implementing organic farming, and food safety certification in addition to existing authorized uses such as water management structure and soil erosion control.” Let’s thank Senator Murphy for introducing this bill!
The Bad News: The Farm Bill passed the House of Representatives on April 30, despite 320 food, farm, and conservation organizations, including CT NOFA, voicing our opposition to a bill that does not fix SNAP, does not support new and beginning farmers, and does not adequately support conservation programs or organic agriculture. Now it goes to the Senate and we need to urge both of Connecticut’s Senators to reject this Farm Bill.