News

Last summer, we were proud to announce the organic certification of farm graduates from our Transition to Organic Partnership Program. We’re equally pleased to report the organic certification of three more farms, all members of our 2025 TOPP cohort: Steadfast Farms, Farmington Valley Fungi, and Autumn Harvest Orchard.

The 2025 Connecticut legislative session recently wrapped up and included a number of victories on important bills supporting local food and agriculture. Wins include the Farm Bill for Connecticut, the Local Food for Local Schools Incentive Program, Farmland Protection and Farmland Access programs, and more.

In early May, we announced that we had joined a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the executive branch’s reorganization of the federal government, which was underway without legislative authority. That challenge resulted in a U.S. District Court issuing a temporary restraining order on the Trump administration to prevent them from reorganizing the government while the case is reviewed. The administration appealed that decision to pause their actions, and we’re pleased to share that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has rejected the executive branch’s appeal.

Now is the time for action! The following important agricultural bills are currently before the CT General Assembly, but the session is closing soon. S.B. 1522 would increase funding for the Community Investment Act (CIA). S.B. 1497, along with the amendment filed as LCO #7446, would create a “Farm Bill” in Connecticut with several important provisions for farmland access and preservation. Both are awaiting a vote in the Senate. 

Several CT NOFA State Advocacy Priorities Are Ready to Move Forward in the State Senate! Read the full update for important and time critical action items.

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (CT NOFA), along with the six other organizations comprising the NOFA Interstate Council (NOFA I.C.) in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, joined a broad lawsuit to challenge the Trump administration’s unlawful reorganization of the federal government.

Americans want healthy organic food to feed their families. Today, 82% of American households purchase organic produce and demand for organic continues to rise. In fact, over the past two decades, demand consistently outpaced domestic production capacity. Imported organic ingredients and finished goods fill the gap, with the United States spending an estimated $8.9 billion on organic imports in 2024, according to research by the Organic Trade Association in 2025.

Monique Bosch, the Soil Health Program Manager with CT NOFA, gets down and dirty about the microbial basis of healthy soil that promotes nutrient dense food and a sustainable environment.

Urge your state legislators to support H.B. 7013, "An Act Concerning Enhancements To The Local Food For Schools Incentive Program and The CT Grown For CT Kids Grant Program," currently under consideration. This bill strengthens our state's local food incentive program and ensures continued funding for farm-to-school initiatives through the CT Grown for CT Kids Grant Program.

In our previous update, we discussed the potential effects of the federal grant funding freeze on CT NOFA’s ability to continue our full slate of programs and services. Although our pledged grant funds continue to be frozen and are without a timeline for resolution, we want to be clear about our position: while some of our programs and communications will become more limited in scope, CT NOFA is not shutting down.

CT NOFA Director of Policy and Advocacy, Dr. Kim Stoner, was on hand in Hartford today along with Republican state senator Tony Hwang to discuss the proposed amendment that would enshrine the right to a clean environment into the Connecticut state constitution.

Roughly two-thirds of CT NOFA’s budget for 2025 is tied to federal grant funding, primarily through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Without restoration of these previously pledged grant funds by the federal government or significant growth in grassroots donations and support, CT NOFA will be forced to cease operations and lay off all staff, beginning May 1.