Three-year Organic Transition Grants Available
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the CCOF Foundation provides grants, mentorship and technical assistance to growers making the transition to organic production. The $10,000 grants are awarded annually for three years to assist producers as they wait the three years before achieving organic certification. Growers also may qualify for an additional $1,000 per transitioning acre (up to 30 acres) for soil building practices.
To be eligible, an applicant must
- Be 18 or older and farm/reside in California
- Already be practicing organic methods
- Provide written documentation of landowner’s approval if renting/leasing land
- Have a business, marketing and Organic Systems plan — or be in the process of making those plans
- Demonstrate financial need
- Submit financial documents from previous years
- Have a minimum of five years agricultural production experience
- Have at least two years of running/owning a farm
- Be willing to participate in an interview
- Submit a letter of reference, yearly report and final report (after three years)
All awardees will be required to track grant funding expenditures and provide certification, acreage, crops, land mapping and organic transition plans.
Grant applications are due August 2 by noon. For more information, contact Larissa Hernandez at [email protected] or 831.346.6324.
