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CT NOFA > Programs > TOPP (Transition to Organic Partnership Program)

TOPP (Transition to Organic Partnership Program)

What is TOPP?

CT NOFA is proud to be a Core Partner in the Northeast Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), a mentorship program that pairs experienced organic producers with producers who are transitioning to organic. This community agreement is sponsored by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and will continue through the fall of 2026.

Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) Concludes
September 30, 2026
After more than three years of programming, the USDA-funded Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) is concluding. This nationwide program worked to lower barriers to organic certification for farms and farmers, and CT NOFA - along with other NOFA chapters - was a lead partner in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region.
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USDA funding for this program concluded in September of 2026. CT NOFA and partner organizations in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region are actively seeking new sources of funding to continue successful aspects of the program, including the mentorship program. Learn more about the program's achievements, here.

 

If you are an experienced certified organic farmer who would consider acting as a paid mentor, or a farmer interested in no-cost guidance through the USDA Organic Certification process, please contact us to be added to our outreach list, which we will utilize in the event that funding becomes available to continue aspects of the program.

 

In the meantime, CT NOFA still offers organic certification consulting to our members. Additionally, all the technical assistance resources developed through TOPP remain available to the public. Click any of the buttons, below, to access these services.

organic certification consulting
technical assistance resources
CONTACT CT NOFA

Organic Transitions

Learn more about farms and farmers who have transitioned to Certified Organic through TOPP.

Organic Transitions: Dakota Rudloff-Eastman & Matthew Went | River Ridge Farm and Market
March 30, 2026
As a core partner in the ongoing Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), CT NOFA has provided support to Connecticut farms that are pursuing organic certification. One of the farms that has achieved organic certification with support from the program is River Ridge Farm (Portland, CT), one of the first farms to become a program participant.
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Organic Transitions: Tyler Hoadley & Haley Newell | Hoadley Hills Farm
March 19, 2026
As a core partner in the ongoing Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), CT NOFA has provided support to Connecticut farms that are pursuing organic certification. One of the farms that has achieved organic certification with support from the program is Hoadley Hills Farm, the first organically certified livestock farm in Connecticut.
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Organic Transitions: Joanne Charon | Autumn Harvest Orchard
January 23, 2026
Joanne Charon, owner of Autumn Harvest Orchard, is proud to be able to provide organic produce for her community. “It gives people a choice to purchase and enjoy fresh CT Grown Organic produce, which is totally different than what’s in the big box store,” she says. “Fresh, organic produce is higher in vitamin and mineral properties, and we are committed to growing all fruits, berries, herbs, nuts, and vegetables in healthy soil using ORMI fertilizers and pest control measures.”
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HOADLEY HILLS FARM

This video interviews Tyler Hoadley and Haley Newell, owners and operators of Hoadley Hills Farm in South Kent, Connecticut. Hoadley Hills Farm is the first organically certified livestock farm in Connecticut. Tyler and Haley discuss how they found out about TOPP, what motivated them to get certified, and how they feel about producing an organic product for customers. The narration and interview is led by Sherlene Rodriguez, Program Director of TOPP at CT NOFA.

This video was produced by UConn Extension in partnership with CT NOFA and filmed by Defining Studios.

RIVER RIDGE FARM

This video interviews Dakota Rudloff-Eastman and Matthew Went, owners and operators of River Ridge Farm in Portland, Connecticut. River Ridge Farm is the one of the first farms in Connecticut to participate in TOPP. Dakota and Matt discuss how they heard about TOPP, how the transition process was less challenging than they expected, how their mentor helped, and how being organically certified has helped them make wholesale farming profitable. The video also features Sherlene Rodriguez, Program Director of TOPP at CT NOFA and Jeremy Pelletier, Executive Director of CT NOFA.

This video was produced by UConn Extension in partnership with CT NOFA and filmed by Defining Studios.

testimonials

Steadfast farms logo

I wanted to thank [CT NOFA] again for your help and support. I have officially submitted our application to become CT's only Certified Organic Poultry Slaughter and Processing facility. Thank you again for all you do and I'm excited for the future.

Aaron McCool

Steadfast Poultry Processing and Farm

assawaga farm logo

It feels great to be able to help a fellow farmer out with starting their farm. There are so many little questions that come up along the way and I think it's been helpful for my mentee to get second opinions and other advice. It was really helpful for me to visit her farm to really understand the lay of the land and get the full picture.

Yoko Takemura

Assawaga Farm

star light gardens logo

Being able to help [my mentee] see the application process as approachable and less intimidating was very satisfying, because my wife and I understood how intimating the process can seem when taking over managing Star Light Gardens. Accepting my own ability to be a mentor as well as committing myself to something besides the farm operation were equally challenging but also rewarding to overcome and realize I had the time and ability.

Joel Smith

Star Light Gardens

TOPP mentorship is going great. I think [CT NOFA] made the right match with me and Adam [Mentor], which I am very thankful for.

Ben Hefferon

Farmington Valley Fungi

the hickories ridgefield logo

I love to be able to share with a new grower and help them expand.

Jacelyn Slattery

The Hickories of Ridgefield

The best part is sharing my farm experience and knowledge as well as my experience as an organic inspector/reviewer.

Frederick Schafer

Program news

Organic Transitions: Tyler Hoadley & Haley Newell | Hoadley Hills Farm
March 19, 2026
As a core partner in the ongoing Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), CT NOFA has provided support to Connecticut farms that are pursuing organic certification. One of the farms that has achieved organic certification with support from the program is Hoadley Hills Farm, the first organically certified livestock farm in Connecticut.
Read More →
Organic Transitions: Joanne Charon | Autumn Harvest Orchard
January 23, 2026
Joanne Charon, owner of Autumn Harvest Orchard, is proud to be able to provide organic produce for her community. “It gives people a choice to purchase and enjoy fresh CT Grown Organic produce, which is totally different than what’s in the big box store,” she says. “Fresh, organic produce is higher in vitamin and mineral properties, and we are committed to growing all fruits, berries, herbs, nuts, and vegetables in healthy soil using ORMI fertilizers and pest control measures.”
Read More →
Jim Riddle to Present ‘Organic Roots and Branches’ at CT NOFA 2026 Winter Conference as Keynote Speaker
January 7, 2026
CT NOFA is proud to announce that Jim Riddle will be our 2026 Winter Conference Keynote Speaker. For more than 40 years, Jim Riddle has been a leader in the organic community, as a farmer, inspector, educator, activist, and policy specialist. During our keynote, Jim will discuss the deep roots of the organic movement - what inspired it, how it has evolved, and where it is today - and share scenes from organic farms around the world. Be prepared for an entertaining, enlightening, and thoughtful time, as Jim takes us on a journey through the organic world, near and far.
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Hoadley Hills Farm Now Certified Organic
August 20, 2025
Hoadley Hills Farm (South Kent) is the first certified organic livestock farm in Connecticut. They produce pasture-raised pork, chicken, turkey, and eggs, as well as grass-fed and pasture raised beef.
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CT NOFA Seeks Farmer Feedback Regarding ‘Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Rule’
August 5, 2025
With the aim of providing technical support to farm businesses, CT NOFA is reaching out to better understand how the new Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Rule affects Connecticut-based organic handlers, co-packers, and processors—and how we can support you. The survey takes approximately 3-5 minutes to complete.
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Steadfast Farms Offers Poultry Processing Discounts to all NOFA Members
August 4, 2025
Steadfast Farms (Bethlehem, Connecticut), a member of CT NOFA’s 2025 TOPP cohort, is proud to offer discounted certified organic poultry processing services for active NOFA members of any chapter. Steadfast can process both birds raised in certified organic conditions and those raised conventionally. Additional fees for certified organic bird processing are waived for all active NOFA members.
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Three (More!) TOPP Farms Now Newly Certified Organic
June 18, 2025
Last summer, we were proud to announce the organic certification of farm graduates from our Transition to Organic Partnership Program. We’re equally pleased to report the organic certification of three more farms, all members of our 2025 TOPP cohort: Steadfast Farms, Farmington Valley Fungi, and Autumn Harvest Orchard.
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TOPP 2024 Impact Report
May 6, 2025
Americans want healthy organic food to feed their families. Today, 82% of American households purchase organic produce and demand for organic continues to rise. In fact, over the past two decades, demand consistently outpaced domestic production capacity. Imported organic ingredients and finished goods fill the gap, with the United States spending an estimated $8.9 billion on organic imports in 2024, according to research by the Organic Trade Association in 2025.
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An Update on CT NOFA’s Status Amidst the Federal Funding Freeze
April 1, 2025
In our previous update, we discussed the potential effects of the federal grant funding freeze on CT NOFA’s ability to continue our full slate of programs and services. Although our pledged grant funds continue to be frozen and are without a timeline for resolution, we want to be clear about our position: while some of our programs and communications will become more limited in scope, CT NOFA is not shutting down.
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Federal Grant Funding Freeze and the Future of CT NOFA
March 13, 2025
Roughly two-thirds of CT NOFA’s budget for 2025 is tied to federal grant funding, primarily through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Without restoration of these previously pledged grant funds by the federal government or significant growth in grassroots donations and support, CT NOFA will be forced to cease operations and lay off all staff, beginning May 1.
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