Assistance fees may be waived with the participation of the Northeast Transition to Organic Partnership Program. This cooperative agreement is sponsored by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and will continue through September 2026.

Read more about it on our website : Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP).

Call Laura Davis, NOFA/Mass Organic Certification Assistance Coordinater 508-596-1651, lauradavis@nofamass.dreamhosters.com

1. Fill out the Soil Services Request Form
   Briefly describe your technical support need
2. Initial consultation
    A NOFA/Mass Soil Technical Assistance Provider will contact you to assess whether your request is a fit for our team
3. Needs assessment
    If we can support your request, we’ll work with you to clarify your goals and develop a scope of work
4. Custom plan and budget
   You’ll receive a proposal that outlines the deliverables, timeline, and estimate
5. Ongoing Support
    We’ll assist with implementation, provide follow-up guidance, or help coordinate relevant resources as needed

What types of support does NOFA/Mass offer? 

• Support offered to farmers in the certification process can be adjusted based on your specific timeline and needs. Consultation can be provided whether you are a farm looking to certify for the first time, or if you are already certified and have questions.
  
• Support offered to farmers that want to process produce into a value added product that can be certified organic.
• Support to non-farm food processors to navigate applying for organic handling certification.

While there are an abundance of resources available to farmers getting started with the certification process, some parts of the process that can be helpful to have assistance are:

• Getting started. In order to successfully apply for organic certification, you will need to be able to verify that the land has not had any prohibited substances for the past three years. You will be required to fill out a field history affidavit that is signed by you and/or the previous owner of the field in order to begin the process of certification.
• Developing your OSP. We can help you move through the application checklist, develop your farm plan, and fill out the paperwork.
  [OSP: Organic System Plan (OSP) : A plan of management of an organic production or handling operation that has been agreed to by the producer or handler and the certifying agent and that includes written plans concerning all aspects of agricultural production or handling described in the Act and the regulations in subpart C of this part. ]
• Amendment selection. There’s more to this than you think! A common challenge for farmers getting started is understanding the differences between Approved, Restricted, and Prohibited substances. NOFA/Mass can help support in this process to help ensure your amendments are compliant with organic standards. As of course, it will help as a first step to make sure your amendment is OMRI approved.
• Help getting questions answered from the certifier. Organic certifiers are not allowed to consult directly with clients. With our services, we can help serve as a liaison to the certifier to help get clarity on questions you may have about the process. 

To get a more clear picture of the end-to-end process of Organic Certification and what steps you need to take, please watch our webinar:

Let’s Do This! Get Certified Organic Step by Step Guidance for Farmers

• Become a part of the certified organic movement
• Give customers even more confidence in your product
• Bring in more profits while protecting the planet

• Organic Certification Resources
• Organic Standards
• YouTube Channel

Questions? Email soilhealth@nofamass.dreamhosters.com