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
Advocacy Action Alert: Tell Your Representatives to Vote NO on the 2026 Farm Bill
The Farm Bill will get a vote in the House of Representatives this week. It is a terrible bill, and we need to put on all the pressure we can to stop it.
Seven years into what is supposed to be a five year process, the House Farm, Food, and National Security Act favors Big Ag, and not family farms in countless ways. Of specific interest to CT NOFA are pesticide industry provisions that would strip states and cities of their power to regulate certain pesticides and would shield the manufacturers from liability.
Organic Transitions: Dakota Rudloff-Eastman & Matthew Went | River Ridge Farm and Market
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.