CCOF seeks regional partners to advance organic transition across West/Southwest

The California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) organization is soliciting proposals for subcontracts to support transitioning and established organic farmers across seven states, the group has announced.

The CCOF initiative moves forward under a five-year cooperative agreement with the USDA’s National Organic Program as part of the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) for the Western region.

Through this request for proposal (RFP), CCOF is seeking nonprofit and public entities capable of delivering programs related to technical assistance, workforce training and development, and community building across California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Texas and Hawaii.

Under community-building, applicants are expected to create both in-person and virtual networking opportunities along with resource hubs offering Organic System Plan templates, regulation guidance, training materials and other essential support. Sample deliverables include an “Organic 101” webinar, field days for crops like cotton and peanuts, and conferences featuring organic transition sessions. Particular attention is requested toward addressing high inspection costs in Hawaii and improving organic awareness in Utah and Nevada.

Under technical assistance, subcontracts should support transitioning farmers via private consultations, workshops, webinars, field days and training in areas such as organic certification, agronomy, supply-chain best practices, business development and land-use planning. Additional priorities include supporting livestock and meat producers, wholesale marketing, land-tenure tools, and cost-of-production studies.

Data collection and reporting are also required, with grantees expected to use CCOF’s Airtable system to report on program activities and outcomes, and potentially produce blog posts, visual reports or photo essays showcasing regional impact.

The RFP also includes workforce training, encouraging partnerships with educational institutions to build organic-focused training and certification programs for inspectors, Certified Crop Advisors, and other technical experts, especially in Hawaii, Texas, and New Mexico.

Proposals must adhere to federal cost regulations (2 CFR 200) and follow reimbursement-based deliverable submissions. Projects may run from the fourth quarter of 2025 through third quarter 2026, with all deliverables and invoices due by Sept. 30, 2026.

The submission deadline is 5 p.m. PST on Sept. 5, 2025. Interested organizations are encouraged to review the full RFP for additional details.