NOFA NJ stays busy with direct technical support, constant policy advocacy, and dozens of local food and farming events throughout the year. All along, we also manage 10+ grants and cooperative agreements that bring a wide variety of resources and support to improve agriculture and promote local food systems. Check out an overview of our current projects below and get involved!
USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program
The Transition to Organic Partnership Program is a national network assembled to support transitioning and organic producers via mentorship, education, technical assistance, community-building and market development. With TOPP, producers transitioning to organic will find support through the transition and certification process. Mentorship, workshops, webinars, field days, technical assistance, and other events offer opportunities to learn about organic production, certification, market opportunities, and more.
The TOPP Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region is led by Pennsylvania Certified Organic and features a coalition of Core Partners and Project Partners. Core Partners include NOFA NJ, NOFA NY, NOFA NH, NOFA VT, NOFA MASS, CT NOFA, MOFGA, Virginia Association for Biological Farming, and the West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition. National partners include the National Organic Coalition, Organic Agronomy Training Service, Rodale Institute, Black Farmers Index, Organic Trade Association, National Young Farmers Coalition, and others. Learn More
USDA Climate Smart Farming & Marketing Program
The Climate-Smart Farming & Marketing program offers financial and technical support for farmers who want to implement climate-smart practices such as agroforestry, cover cropping, mulching, prescribed grazing, reduced tillage and more. NOFA NJ’s Technical Assistance Providers will assist farmers in developing and implementing on-farm projects and working through the program requirements. Participating producers will receive 75% of the project funding up-front along with a participation stipend of $1,000.
Farmer participants will help measure the environmental benefits of these Climate-Smart practices, and we’ll help them educate customers to grow informed consumer demand. Led by Pasa, this project is a collaboration of twelve organizations from Maine to South Carolina. Learn More
USDA FSA Increasing Land, Capital & Market Access Program
NOFA NJ’s Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Project aims to help historically underserved farmers access NJ Wildlife Management Area Land and will be supported by a collaboration of more than 20 state and regional partners, focusing on providing technical assistance for crop production, accessing markets and accessing capital for the production of organic grain and indigenous crops. Project Page Coming Soon!
Highlands Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program
This project, titled “Operation Diversification”, is a regenerative farm trial that aims to awaken curiosity by engaging present and future farmers in new/old farming methods. With funding from the NJ Highlands Council, NOFA NJ is supporting community efforts to explore the restoration of degraded ag lands and to conduct on-farm stewardship trials. In 2025, we will begin to train interested Technical Assistance Providers around the fundamentals of pastured livestock, soil health, agroforestry, and farm tools & implements, increasing the capacity to support farms in the region and prompting the agricultural community to accept a variety of practices not currently recognized by traditional ag service providers. Learn More
USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program
In partnership with Morganics Family Farm, NOFA NJ will coordinate the establishment of a grain and seed processing cooperative to increase the capacity for farms in Central NJ to process, market, and add value to small grains and seed crops for human consumption. *Awaiting final approval from USDA
USDA Local Food Promotion Program
NOFA NJ and Ironbound Farm will identify, analyze, develop, implement, and evaluate innovative marketing opportunities for farm producers in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania utilizing Farm Winery License Retail Outlets. These retail outlets, which can include on-farm markets, corner stores, existing grocers and more, offer a unique opportunity for producers to access additional markets without significant increases in staffing or overhead costs. This market access opportunity will specifically focus on supporting small, beginning, and underserved farmers in marketing and promoting shelf-stable and value-added products to accompany Ironbound Farm’s existing products offered in each Retail Outlet. Project Page Coming Soon!
USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program
NOFA NJ is in the final year of a three-year project, collaborating with fellow NOFA Chapters to provide limited income residents in the 7 states of the Northeast (NY, MA, CT, RI, NJ, NH, VT) with the opportunity to support their local CSA farmer and receive reliable access to high-quality produce on a weekly basis through an innovative cost-share model.
NJDA Underserved Farmer Grant
The Veteran Farmers of New Jersey, a program housed within NOFA NJ, was warded a NJDA Underserved Farmer Grant to host a week-long Veteran Farmer Boot Camp in October 2024. Read about the Boot Camp’s success and learn about VFNJ. Learn More
NJDA Specialty Crop Block Grant
With funding from the Specialty Crop Block Grant, NOFA NJ is trialing dry bean production to increase the supply and demand of organic dry beans. We will conduct field research, engage in consumer marketing, and provide education, training, and technical support for participating farmers. By increasing the diversity of crops produced in NJ and by increasing the ability of farms to sell shelf-stable goods year-round, this project will support farms’ financial viability and local food system security.
Hopewell Harvest Grant
NOFA NJ and Sourland Bread are partnering on a Hopewell Bake-Off! With funding from the Hopewell Harvest Fair, we’re hosting an educational event in Spring 2025 where attendees will be able to learn the benefits of fermented foods, will learn how to make sourdough bread, and will be able to bake two loaves: one to take home and one to donate to The Chubby’s Project. Using locally-grown Organic flour, we’ll cause the right kind of stir around local foods to bring the community together and promote local farms and food businesses.
National Sustainable Ag Coalition Delaware River Watershed Project
With funding from the William Penn Foundation, NOFA NJ worked with NSAC (National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition) to help them assess the usage of Farm Bill Conservation programs in the Delaware River Watershed. NOFA NJ promote the findings, the conservation programs and watershed health information among our community of farmers and producers. Learn More
Grants With Partners
NOFA NJ is currently engaged on multiple additional grant projects and cooperative agreements with partner organizations, including:
- FSA Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program led by Foodshed Alliance to support underserved producer education Learn More
- USDA Urban Agriculture & Innovative Production grant led by Isles with the goal of training urban gardeners and farmers in Trenton and making infrastructure improvements to various urban production sites in Trenton. Learn More