The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) farmer-to-farmer mentorship program builds connections between experienced organic producers and producers transitioning to organic, supports the transition process, and creates a stronger network of organic producers across the United States.
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association is managing the TOPP mentorship program for North Carolina and South Carolina, which launched in spring 2024. The 2026 program is a six-month partnership (March – September) between mentors and mentees, with the goal of mentees transitioning acreage to certified organic production by the end of the mentorship.
In addition to the mentorship, CFSAโs trained staff will provide technical assistance to mentees, including completing an Organic Systems Plan (OSP), help writing a Conservation Activity Plan (CPA 138), and preparing for an audit.
Meet The Mentors
Mentors play a crucial role in helping new organic producers succeed while growing the organic movement, and have the opportunity to guide and support producers who are transitioning to organic, providing them with valuable insights, practical advice, and industry best practices.
Tumbling Shoals Farm | Millers Creek, NC
Years of experience in agriculture: 20+
Years of experience in Certified Organic production: 10+
Acres in Certified Organic production: 3
Acres in Transitional Organic production: 6
Scopes of organic certification: Crops and Handling
What type(s) of certified organic products does this operation produce? Mixed vegetables and berries.
Why do you want to be a mentor? I believe in organic production, not only for the health of our greater environment, but for the health of the family farm both financially and literally. I think that the more farmers that move into organic production, and especially certified organic production, the better our agricultural system will be as a whole, and the more resources there will become available for organic farmers. The more organic farmers there are, the more โon the radarโ we become, so to speak. The more small and mid-size family farms that move into certified organic production, the more integrity there will be in the label.
Wild Hope Farm | Chester, SC
Years of experience in agriculture: 20+
Years of experience in Certified Organic production: 10+
Acres in Certified Organic production: 14
Scopes of organic certification: Crops
What type(s) of certified organic products does this operation produce? Mixed vegetables.
Why do you choose to follow organic production methods? I sincerely believe that organic methods can have a less negative effect on the natural world.
Thatchmore Farms | Leicester, NC
Years of experience in agriculture: 20+
Years of experience in Certified Organic production: 20+
Acres in Certified Organic production: 10
Crops under certification: Mixed vegetables, tree fruit, berries, tree nuts, container nursery plants.
Why do you choose to follow organic production methods? I have had an environmental world view since growing up in the 1960s. I hold a degree in environmental engineering which reflects that interest and orientation. Organic is the only production approach that we ever considered.
Why do you want to be a mentor? Advisors and mentors have been generous to me with their time and wisdom over the years. I am eager to pass that information on to the next generation of farmers. I find that the information shared comes back many times.
RambleRill Farm | Hillsborough, NC
Years of experience in agriculture: 20+
Years of experience in Certified Organic production: 10+
Acres in Certified Organic production: 3
Crops under certification: Mixed vegetables, tree fruit, berries, grapes, tree nuts, and eggs.
Why do you want to be a mentor? Experienced mentors are critical, especially in farming. The average age of farmers continues to rise, and land continues to be destroyed at a rapid pace. We need to support new and transitioning farmers to counteract these trends. A pool of capable and supported organic farmers needs to exist and grow in number to impact the decline of farmland and the threats to integrity in organics and our food system at large.
Greenfield Organic Farms | Westminster, SC
Years of experience in agriculture: 20+
Years of experience in Certified Organic production: 10+
Acres in Certified Organic production: 72
Crops under certification: Mixed vegetables, Tree fruit, Berries, Livestock/meat products, Eggs
Why do you choose to follow organic production methods? Itโs the right thing to doโbeing a good steward of the land, a responsible grower, and a neighbor. Plus, we really donโt need all the chemicals to have great food!
Why do you want to be a mentor? I believe growing organic food is the right thing for us and our customers, and interest is growing rapidly. Helping others become organic would influence even more people to better their health and the environment.
Windcrest Farm | Monroe, NC
Years of experience in agriculture: 20+
Years of experience in Certified Organic production: 16
Acres in Certified Organic production: 10
Crops under certification: Mixed vegetables, berries, transplants.
Why do you want to be a mentor? Education has always been a part of my career โ farming and otherwise. Plus, I need organic farmers to feed me when I retire :)
Blue Sky Sunny Day Organic Farm | Walterboro, SC
Years of experience in agriculture: 20+
Years of experience in Certified Organic production: 5+ years
Acres in Certified Organic production: 14
Scopes of organic certification: Crops and Livestock
RambleRill Farm | Hillsborough, NC
Years of experience in agriculture: 20+
Years of experience in Certified Organic production: 10+
Acres in Certified Organic production: 3
Crops under certification: Mixed vegetables, tree fruit, berries, grapes, tree nuts, and eggs.
Why do you want to be a mentor? Experienced mentors are critical, especially in farming. The average age of farmers continues to rise, and land continues to be destroyed at a rapid pace. We need to support new and transitioning farmers to counteract these trends. A pool of capable and supported organic farmers needs to exist and grow in number to impact the decline of farmland and the threats to integrity in organics and our food system at large.
Bio Way Farm | Ware Shoals, SC
Years of experience in agriculture: 20+
Years of experience in Certified Organic production: 10+
Acres in Certified Organic production: 5
Scopes of organic certification: Crops
What type(s) of certified organic products does this operation produce? Mixed vegetables, tree fruit, and grapes
Why do you want to be a mentor? To help the next generation of farmers and to give back to people and the planet.
What area(s) of expertise you would be willing to share with a mentee? Cover cropping, crop rotation, crop planning, biodiversity, native plants, forest farming, irrigation, soil health, and marketing.
Farmer FoodShare | Durham, NC
Years of experience in agricultural roles: 20+
Scopes of organic certification: Handling
About Farmer Foodshare: Farmer Foodshare is a food hub based in Durham, NC. We handle conventional and organic fruit, vegetables, and occasionally meat and dairy procured and aggregated from our network of NC farmers. We distribute our products to
our institutional customers, our CSA box program, and through food box programs that serve food-insecure communities in and around the Triangle.
Why do you want to be a mentor? I want to help create sales channels for more organic production. If I can provide mentorship that will help a distributor/produce buyer be able to buy more organic produce, I would be happy to help.
Rowland’s Row | Gold Hill, NC
Years of experience in agricultural roles: 10-19
Years of experience with certified organic production: 10-19
Area(s) of expertise you would be willing to share with a mentee: Organic production, high tunnel production, pest/disease management, fertility/nutrient management, weed management, high tunnel production, greenhouse management, Amendments/inputs, implements/equipment, soil health
Why do you want to be a mentor? I aim to support emerging organic growers in their transition process, thereby shortening the learning curve required for success in a demanding field.
This program is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).
Page content last reviewed and updated 8/13/2026.
