By: Annie Sholar

Are you interested in learning more about organic certification, but feel intimidated by the process?

Or, do you have experience as an organic producer, and want to share what you’ve learned about certified organic production with another farmer in a paid mentorship position?

NOFA/Mass is part of the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, or TOPP, and we’re excited to extend the opportunity to join the organic transition mentorship program to another cohort of farmers.

Each year, we’ll pair growers who are new to organic certification with more experienced organic growers, to lend a helping hand along the way.

As part of the program, mentees will:

  • learn from experienced growers, including through in-person site visits

  • Receive a free review of your organic system plan from NOFA/Mass

  • have access to free educational opportunities (like on-farm soil health trainings) and networking and community-building gatherings

  • Get support in seeking out additional resources for organic growers (like crop insurance for transitional years).

TOPP mentors don’t have to be farm-owners – you just need at least 3 years of experience with organic production and certification. You’ll receive training and support to guide your mentoring relationship as well as a stipend, beginning at $3,000 per year.

We need more mentors! Mentorship is a great fit for organic producers who are interested in building community and supporting the organic farming network in Massachusetts. We’d love to have you on board!

Do you know a farmer who could benefit from the TOPP mentorship program?


Do you know an experienced organic grower who would make a great mentor?


Please forward them this article!

Here’s what this year’s mentors and mentees say about TOPP:

Julie Rawson, a Mentor from Many Hands Organic Farm, says, “It has been really fun to work as a mentor. As someone who has been casting around for the past 50 years for the best ways to farm organically, it is heartwarming to be able to share all of my learning experiences.”

Julie hopes that sharing this learning will help others “short circuit mistakes and have a productive and enjoyable time farming.”

Anna Kelchin, a Mentee from Late Bloom Farm, explains, “I have found the program to be extremely beneficial as I was initially intimidated by the organic certification process.
It has really helped me to understand the process as a whole, organize my record keeping and feel more comfortable about the inspection day itself.”

Anna adds, “The relationship I am building with my mentor has been rewarding and special in that she has been able to support me on an individual level – sharing immense wisdom and experiences from her lifetime of farming and discussing challenges and questions I have specific to my own operation.”

Richard Robinson, a Mentor from Hopestill Farm, shares that mentorship has “been valuable to me in a couple of ways – first being, I get to meet new farmers, most of them younger than me.”

Richard recommends signing up for TOPP “if you like to meet people, if you like to chat about farming, if you like to share your experience –  then it’s very rewarding. You get to find out how other people do and think about things. It’s just a lot of fun. And it comes with some money, too – that’s pretty good.”