Welcome to the U.H.
Organic Transition Program

U.H.O.T. (University of Hawai’i at Mānoa Organic Transition Program) is a USDA funded program dedicated to fostering organic workforce development, providing organic transfer and certification guidance, mentoring services, technical assistance, and community building in Hawaii. 

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The U.S. The Department of Agricultureʻs (USDA), administered by Agriculture Marketing Service embarked on a new Organic Transition Initiative designed to help build current and to establish new markets for farmers and producers.

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According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, since 2008, the number of non-certified organic farms actively transitioning to organic production dropped by nearly 71 percent. In Hawai’i the decline in certified organic farmers echoed the mainland. The Transition Organic Partnership Program hopes to reverse the trend. 

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The TOPP (Transition to Organic Partnership Program) is a 5-year collaborative partnership network covering six regions. The University of Hawai’i at Mānao Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program, in partnership with CCOF as the Western Region lead, Hawai’i Farmers Union United and Ma’o Farms to provide mentoring services, technical assistance, community building, and organic workforce development for transitioning and exciting organic farmers.