Northeast Growing Together Conference
Northeast Growing Together Conference
Grow your Knowledge. Build your network. Experience organic in action!
Join us for a FREE immersive, hands-on event hosted by the Northeast TOPP program, created to support both current and aspiring organic farmers and producers.
Through engaging workshops, practical technical assistance, and meaningful peer-to-peer connections, you will gain insights you can immediately apply to your operation.
Keynote Session - Organic Superpowers
In these times of turmoil, the powers and values of organic agriculture remain constant. Nutritious and abundant organic products, produced from healthy, living soils in harmony with nature, capture Earth’s healing energies, feeding bodies and souls. Longtime organic farmers and leaders, Jim Riddle and Joyce Ford, will entertain, educate, and inspire you while exploring the values of health, ecology, fairness, and care inherent to organic food and farming systems.
About Jim Riddle & Joyce Ford
Joyce Ford and Jim Riddle farmed organically in Minnesota for 40 years. They have long been leaders in the organic movement, starting a local farmers’ market; helping develop organic certification policies; and establishing the International Organic Inspectors Association, training inspectors all over the world. Jim served on the National Organic Standards Board and originated the organic certification cost-share program, and they were recipients of the 2019 MOSES Organic Farmers of the Year Award. They continue to serve on local, state, and national committees and volunteer time working on organic farms in New Hampshire.
Experience an inspiring day of learning, networking, and inspiration at the conference. Through engaging workshops, practical technical assistance, and meaningful peer-to-peer connections, you'll gain valuable insights and take-home strategies you can put to work right away. Plus, lunch is included, giving you even more opportunities to connect with fellow attendees and speakers.
Workshop Sessions
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
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Location: Tent
Presenters: Northeast Growing Together Conference
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
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Location: Tent
Presenters:
Dayanna Barnes of USDA NRCS
Colene Reed of Oregon Tilth
Description: The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offers a wide variety of conservation and soil health programs and initiatives to support organic farms. Many growers may already be familiar with the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), or have heard about the newly launched Regenerative Pilot Program.
Bring your questions to this session to learn more about how their programming can support your operation.
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Location: Tent
Presenter: Dr. Sarauv Das of Rodale Institute
Description: Rodale’s Farming Systems Trial was first launched in 1981 and is America’s longest-running side-by-side comparison of organic and conventional grain farming. This study compares three farming systems: conventional with chemical-based inputs, low-input organic, and diversified organic.
Rodale soil scientist and FST director, Dr. Sarauv Das, will highlight key findings from these trials, as well as notable observations from 2026 in organic corn production. Come learn about soil health and the resiliency of organic systems during this field talk visiting this historic research.
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Location: Barn
Presenter: Dani Baker of The Enchanted Edible Forest at Cross Island Farms
Description: This illustrated talk will describe the growth habit, preferred habitat, care required, food value, other uses, aesthetic appeal, and propagation techniques for over 20 native perennial fruit and berry plants.
The plants described range from trees to bushes, groundcovers, and even vines. When placed in habitats that meet their needs, native plants tend to be well adapted to our climate and have few pests, diseases, or maintenance problems. If you want to expand your CSA or farm stand offerings, create a you-pick venue, sell wholesale, or produce value-added products, this workshop will introduce you to a variety of native fruits and berries to choose from.
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
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Location: Tent
Presenters:
Lauren Hubele of Gemmo Forest
Danika Villalva & L.Villalva of The Laurels Farm
Moderated by Nicole Denhe of Northeast Organic Farmers Association of Vermont
Description: Join a panel of growers as they share their firsthand experiences navigating the organic certification process. Panelists will discuss the challenges they faced, the lessons they learned, and the strategies that helped them successfully become certified organic.
Whether you're just beginning your organic transition or looking for guidance along the way, this interactive discussion offers valuable tips, honest perspectives, and an opportunity to learn directly from growers who have completed the journey.
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Location: Barn
Presenter: James White of Rutgers University
Description: This presentation will describe how plants attract and cultivate soil microbes to enhance the development of the plant, as well as to increase nutrient density.
Attendees will learn about endophytes in plants and how plants engage in rhizophagy to acquire nutrients.
Dr. James White and his students have been studying the process that plants use to obtain endophytic microbes and employ them for nearly four decades.
This talk is geared towards a lay audience and a non-technical focus, with ample opportunities for dialogue.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
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Location: Tent
Presenters: Northeast Growing Together Conference
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
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Location: Tent
Presenters:
Fred Lee of Sang Lee Farms
Megan Roe
Moderated by Wren Frueh of PCO Certified Organic
Description: Join experienced farmers as they share stories on how they got started, where they are now, their challenges, successes, and inspiration gained.
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Location: Barn
Presenters:
Tristan Noyes of Maine Grain Alliance
June Russell of Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming
Sharon Burns-Leader of Bread Alone Bakery
Amber Lambke of Maine Grains
Description: Growing regional grain economies require more than increasing production; it requires strong relationships, coordinated supply chains, committed buyers, and sustained investment in market development. This panel will explore how organizations and businesses across the Northeast are creating viable markets for regionally grown grains by connecting farmers with millers, bakers, food businesses, institutions, and consumers.
Panelists will share examples from their work developing farmer and buyer relationships, supporting product development, strengthening processing infrastructure, communicating the value of local and organic grains, and creating opportunities for collaboration across the supply chain. The conversation will also address common challenges, including inconsistent supply and demand, pricing, quality specifications, transportation, processing capacity, and the time required to build trust among partners.
Attendees will leave with practical ideas for identifying market
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
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Location: Tent
Presenter: Emily Fratz of Cornell University
Description: Participatory plant breeding is a seed improvement strategy that can be used to develop locally adapted, diverse, and climate-resilient crop varieties. In this session, we’ll present reflections from the first season of a dry bean breeding collaboration between Cornell University and six farms across the Northeast focused on developing specialty dry bean varieties well-suited to the growing conditions of the region and small-to-medium-scale organic farms. We’ll also share practical strategies for how you can get started with breeding crops on your farm.
This session will be split between a presentation, group discussion, and pollination demonstrations.
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Location: Tent
Presenter: The Rodale Institute Team
Description: Join us on this field walk that will visit two of Rodale’s research trials: agroforestry and pasture-based hog production. The agroforestry demonstration, located on the site of an old apple orchard, highlights new crops and opportunities for perennial tree cropping. This research trial focuses on new genetics for hazelnuts and honeylocust (among other tree crops). Researchers collect data on their potential for crop production (hazelnuts) and livestock fodder (honeylocust that yields pods of up to 35% sugar- dry weight). Just steps away from the agroforestry/orchard site is the hog facility designed for pasture-based hog production. We’ll stop by and learn about how cover cropping, orchards, and silvopasture can be incorporated into hog production.
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Location: Barn
Presenter: Tina Ellor of Phillips Mushroom Farm
Description: Phillips Mushroom Farm is a 100-year-old mushroom farm that is producing multiple species on an industrial scale in the mushroom capital of the US. Join their lead mycologist to discuss an overview of mycology, elements of a professional system, and health quirks and benefits of mushrooms. After the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to try fresh sauteed mushrooms, compare the taste of dried vs. fresh mushrooms, and sample some value-added mushroom products.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Location: Tent
Presenters: Joyce Ford and Jim Riddle
Description: In these times of turmoil, the powers and values of organic agriculture remain constant. Nutritious and abundant organic products, produced from healthy, living soils in harmony with nature, capture earth’s healing energies, feeding bodies and souls. Longtime organic farmers and leaders, Jim Riddle and Joyce Ford, will entertain, educate, and inspire you while exploring the values of health, ecology, fairness, and care inherent to organic food and farming systems.
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
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Location: Barn
🍽️ Food Truck Lineup
Come hungry and enjoy a variety of local favorites from:
Take A Taco- Soft shell tacos and more
Funky Chicken - Savory meals and hearty dinner options
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
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Location: Barn
Presenters: Rodale Institute Team
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
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Location: Barn
Presenters: Box and String Band
Stay Nearby
Hampton Inn & Suites Kutztown, PA
15080 Kutztown Rd
Kutztown, PA 19530
The Conference room block window is closed.
QUESTIONS?
Contact us at topp-ne@paorganic.org for more information.
Become A Sponsor
Supporting the conference is a great opportunity to engage with a dedicated network throughout the Northeast and demonstrate your commitment to building a stronger, more resilient farming system.
TOPP Partner Organizations
