TOPP (Transition to Organic Partnership Program)
TOPP IS A NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS PARTNERING TO SUPPORT TRANSITIONING AND EXISTING ORGANIC FARMERS
Latest TOPP News
Organic Transitions: Tyler Hoadley & Haley Newell | Hoadley Hills Farm
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.
HOW TO TAKE PART IN THE TRANSITION TO ORGANIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
CT NOFA staff will assist with helping mentee farmers to navigate the organic certification process.
We welcome partner non-profit or public organizations to work with CT NOFA to provide community building opportunities, technical assistance, train-the-mentor support, and workshop and field day activities covering topics including organic production practices, certification, conservation planning, business development, regulations, and marketing.
ct nofa is currently accepting applications for:
Mentor Farmers
who have at least 3 years' organic farming experience working directly on farm production, business management, and/or organic certification. This could include experience as an employee, manager, or owner of an organic operation or someone with at least 3 years experience with organic certification.
Mentee Farmers
who have at least 2 years' experience owning or operating a farm including owners, employees, or managers. If you are planning to transition an operation to organic, in the process of transitioning an operation to organic, starting a new certified organic operation, and/or are interested in technical assistance, we welcome you to apply to join our mentorship program.
Please note that application does not guarantee acceptance.
Organic Transitions
Learn more about farms and farmers who have transitioned to Certified Organic through TOPP.
Organic Transitions: Tyler Hoadley & Haley Newell | Hoadley Hills Farm
Organic Transitions: Joanne Charon | Autumn Harvest Orchard
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
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
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
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
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
CURRENT Participating Farms
RESOURCES FOR TOPP PARTICIPANTS
CT NOFA TOPP Events
No events currently scheduled
TOPP Partner Events
No events currently scheduled
Technical assistance and educational resources
Farmer Roundtables
Provided courtesy of the New Connecticut Farmer Alliance
Cover Cropping on Small Farms
Greenhouse Tomato Growing
Scaling Up the Small Farm
Technical Assistance Resources
- Research summaries
- Factsheets and guidebooks
- Webinars and videos
- Tools curated from the nation’s top organic institutions and organizations
- Becoming MOFGA Certified Organic – Producer Toolkit Brochure
- MOFGA’s Farmer Programs
- Organic Certification Video Series
- Accredited Certifiers Association (ACA)
- MOFGA Pest Report
- Record Keeping Example Forms
- ATTRA Organic Farming Resources and Library
Program news
Organic Transitions: Tyler Hoadley & Haley Newell | Hoadley Hills Farm
Jim Riddle to Present ‘Organic Roots and Branches’ at CT NOFA 2026 Winter Conference as Keynote Speaker
Organic Transitions: Joanne Charon | Autumn Harvest Orchard
Hoadley Hills Farm Now Certified Organic
