Let’s Grow Organic Agriculture
The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), assembled by the USDA’s National Organic Program, supports farms and producers in transitioning from conventional to organic with mentorship and organic farming resources.
Two Years of Progress: How TOPP is Growing Organic from the Ground Up
Since its launch in 2022, the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) has been strengthening organic farming communities.
This report highlights the first two years of TOPP, showcasing real stories, key partnerships, and insights on how the program supports conventional farmers and producers transitioning to organic, boosts local economies, and expands market opportunities.
Six nationwide regions working together towards a common goal: to grow the network of organic farmers producers.
With TOPP, farmers and producers interested in or transitioning from conventional to organic will find support through the transition and organic certification process.
Mentorship, organic workshops and webinars, field days, technical assistance, and other educational events offer opportunities to learn about organic farming principles, the benefits of organic production, the organic certification process, market opportunities, and more.
Find your region below to learn more about organic mentorship programs, events, and resources.
Join Our Organic Mentorship Program
The TOPP mentorship program connects you with experienced organic producers to help guide you during your transition to organic from conventional methods.
This proven program supports the transition process and creates a stronger network of organic producers across the United States.
For Mentees - Producers Transitioning To Organic
Transitioning producers gain support, guidance, and development through mentorship.
As a part of the program, conventional farms and producers changing to organic will receive free mentorship from an experienced organic producer. Mentors and transitioning producers will work together to set goals for the mentorship year, learn more about organic resources, opportunities and the certification process, and more.
For Mentors - Help Increase Organic Practices In The U.S.
Mentors play a crucial role in helping new organic producers succeed while growing the organic movement.
As a mentor, you will have the opportunity to guide and support farms and producers who are transitioning to organic, providing them with valuable insights, practical advice, and organic industry best practices.
All organic crop and organic livestock producers are welcome to apply! Mentorship training, time, and travel are paid.
Upcoming Events
Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF)
Online
Farmers in CAFF’s 2nd Organic Transition Cohort that were onboarded in Q1 are going through an internal 6 week training series to help them get started on their OSPs, determine what steps they need to take to implement organic transition, and make a plan with their CAFF staffer point of contact for our collaboration with them over the next year. TOPP funds are paying for simultaneously transitional of the sessions into Spanish for the three growers in the cohort that Spanish is their primary language.
March 25th: Certification Overview & Choosing a Certifier
April 1st: Understanding & Starting Your OSP
April 8th: Recordkeeping
April 15th: Additional OSP Sections
April 22nd: OSP Submission & Inspection Preparation
April 29th: Initial Inspection & Next Steps
Red Acre Center
UT
Spring Meetups are farm tours or similar activities. At each meeting those who attend get introduced to the center and the resources that it has to offer.
Georgia Organics, Rodale Institute, Global Growers Network, Oxford College Farm, Southeastern African American Farmers Organic Network, and Georgia Organic Peanut Association (GOPA)
9:30 am - 2:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time (EST))
The SE TOPP Georgia Partners are excited to announce a diverse line-up of educational farmer field days in 2026. Join us across the state to explore different production practices in our “Consider This…” series.
April 16, 2026 | “Consider Organic Co-Farming Production” at Global Growers Network Rockdale Organic Co-Farm (North GA)
April 24, 2026 | “Consider Organic Medicinal Herbs” at Stellar Roots Herb Farm (Northeast GA)
May 21, 2026 | “Consider Farmer Health and Closed Loop Farming Systems” at Comfort Farms (Middle GA)
June 29, 2026 | “Consider Organic Certification on a Diversified Vegetable Farm” at Oxford College Organic Farm (North GA)
July 10, 2026 | “Consider Organic Peanuts” at Chad Heard Farms (Southwest GA)
July 24, 2026 | “Consider Pasture to Plate on an Intergenerational Family Farm” at Berry Family Farm (Southeast GA)
Learn more and register at the link below.
Berkeley Food Institute
CA
We will discuss graduate student’s academic and work experience in the field of organic food and farming systems, including, but not limited to some of these themes:
How you made your decision to choose one job over another
What led you to choose grad school
What professionalism means to you, how you have experienced this in the workplace, and how entry level employees can navigate some of the challenges
General practices you have followed for professionalism that you can share with someone entering the workforce
Q/A: Students in this course are currently finishing up internships. They will ask relevant questions regarding scenarios that have come up in their internships and questions they have about entering the workforce for the first time at the end of this school year.
Rodale Institute
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm (EST) | Studio Two Three, 109 W 15th St, Richmond, VA 23224
Are you growing vegetables or grains? Growing organically or thinking about making the transition? Ready to scale up or find new market outlets? If you answered yes to any of these, this is the room you’ve been waiting for.
One night to close the gap between what Virginia farms grow and what local buyers need. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to get your vegetables or grain into a distillery, mill, grocery store, or regional supply chain, bring your questions and come get the answers straight from the source.
The evening kicks off with a buyer panel featuring grain buyers from the distillery and milling world alongside diversified vegetable buyers from grocery, food hubs, and wholesale. Panelists include Evrim Dogu, Sub Rosa Bakery and Shelley Sackier, Reservoir Distillery and the Virginia Heritage Grain Project (BOD of Common Grain Alliance). They’ll share what they’re looking for, what it takes to sell into their operations, and how to get started. Then the floor opens up, and the real work begins, meeting them face to face.
Our local farms are providing us with the products we need for good food and good drinks, so come hungry, come thirsty, and come ready to talk and connect.
All farmers are welcome. Organic focus. Real conversations. No pitch decks are required.
The panel tells you what it takes. The mixer is where it happens.
Presented by Shalom Farms · Virginia Association for Biological Farming · Rodale Institute · Common Grain Alliance
News
FY24 In-Person TOPP Events Heatmap
View TOPP’s 2024 in-person event locations and the educational programs that supported organic and transitioning farmers nationwide.
This Story Map was created by:
Find Out More
Questions? Contact Us
Connect with a TOPP partner near you, and get the help and resources you need in your transition to organic.
Impact Report: Two Years of Progress
A story of collective action, meaningful partnerships, and measurable change shown through our Transition to Organic Partnership Program.
