2025 Organic Programmatic Gap Analysis

Analysis prepared by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) with support from Clemson Cooperative Extension Service.

The Southeast Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) has made significant advances in providing technical support for producers. However, despite robust mentorship and agronomic resources, the region’s organic acreage continues to lag behind national averages. This analysis identifies three primary organic programmatic gaps: the Financial Uncertainty Gap regarding federal cost-share reliability, the Administrative Friction Gap created by recordkeeping burdens, and the Infrastructure/Supply Chain Gap that leaves mid-sized producers without viable processing or distribution hubs. This analysis also examines the growing value proposition question, where small and mid-sized operations find the USDA Organic seal increasingly redundant in local, relationship-based markets.