TOPP Mentorship Program Applications Open
January 26, 2024
After successful pairings of experienced organic growers with transitioning-to-organic growers in 2023, CT NOFA seeks additional applicants for future cohorts of mentor/mentee pairings.
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.
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.
Want to participate?
Prospective MENTORS – with organic growing experience – can apply here.
Recent Posts
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.
Our Vision for a Future of Resilient, Plentiful, Healthy and Locally-Grounded Farming and Food
In concluding its annual retreat, the Northeast Organic Farming Association Interstate Council (NOFA IC) reaffirms the values that have grounded our work for 55 years.
Our vision is that every person is able to live their life with healthy food, clean water and air, community, livelihood, dignity, and purpose within the means of our life-giving planet. We seek that vision on every level, from our households and farms to our communities, states, bioregions, nation, and world. For that vision to be fulfilled, every person, no matter their origin or circumstances, must have all their basic human needs met without degrading the air, water, soil, ecosystems, and climate which we have been given and on which we depend for our lives.