Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey

What Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey does

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA NJ) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 and headquartered in Lambertville, New Jersey. It is one of seven chapters of the NOFA network and serves as New Jersey's only organization dedicated specifically to supporting organic farms and local food systems. NOFA NJ's core functions are technical assistance for organic certification, educational programming (workshops, farm tours, conferences), policy advocacy at the state and federal level, and grant administration supporting farmer infrastructure. The organization serves a membership base of 200+ farms, food businesses, organizations, and individuals, with specialized initiatives for beginning farmers, veteran farmers, urban farmers, and community members.

NOFA NJ's program portfolio has expanded materially in recent years. Flagship offerings include the USDA-funded Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), the Veteran Farmers of New Jersey program (Boot Camps, Rally Day), the Farmer Wellness Program (mental, financial, and physical health), the Highlands Agroforestry Project, the Increasing Land, Capital & Market Access Program, the Good Grain grainshed restoration initiative, and the Farmers Process community kitchen acquired in Milford, NJ in April 2024. Signature annual events include FesTomato! (350+ attendees, 20+ vendor farms) and the Annual Winter Conference. NOFA NJ's marketing channels center on a weekly newsletter, podcast, YouTube presence, Facebook/Instagram organic social, and an online member directory.

The organization's revenue is generated through five primary streams: membership fees (individuals, families, farms, businesses), tax-deductible donations, state and federal grants (notably a $1M NJ Grant-in-Aid in 2023 disbursed as 27 mini-grants totaling $250K), corporate sponsorships for events and programs, and event registrations. NOFA NJ operates with a lean team of 1-10 employees from its Lambertville headquarters and the Milford kitchen facility, with no parent company, subsidiaries, or equity ownership structure. There is no proprietary technology product; delivery runs on standard nonprofit web infrastructure, a member directory, and event programming.

Name

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey

Legal name

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey

Website

https://nofanj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NOFA NJ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that supports organic farming and local food systems in New Jersey through technical assistance, education, mini-grants, policy advocacy, and community programming for farmers, veterans, and consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Agriculture Nonprofit Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

Keywords

• Organic farming support
• Agricultural education
• Farmer technical assistance
• Sustainable agriculture advocacy
• Local food systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Lambertville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for individuals, families, farms, and businesses seeking to support sustainable food systems. Members receive benefits including technical resources, grants and funding announcements, market opportunities, and access to member-only content and directory.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting organic farming and local food systems. NOFA NJ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with tax identification number 22-3043823.
3. Grants and Government Funding: State and federal grants including a $1M Grant-in-Aid awarded in 2023 for organic and regenerative farmer support, USDA TOPP program funding, and specialty crop block grants. Funding supports mini-grants to farmers, technical assistance, and programmatic activities.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsorships for specific programs and events including Annual Events (FesTomato, Winter Conference, Farmer Wellness Day), Farmer Processing Initiative, Farm Tour & Workshop Series, and NOFA NJ Bulk Order program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NOFA NJ is a nonprofit membership organization that supports organic farming and local food systems in New Jersey through farmer technical assistance, educational programming, policy advocacy, and direct grants. It administers the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), distributes mini-grants up to $10,000 to farmers for infrastructure, operates the Farmers Process community kitchen in Milford, NJ, and runs the Veteran Farmers of New Jersey program. The organization also hosts signature events such as FesTomato! and the Annual Winter Conference, and maintains a network of 200+ member farms and food businesses.

Product overview

NOFA NJ operates as a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services supporting organic farming and local food systems in New Jersey. The organization provides direct farmer support through technical assistance, the TOPP mentorship program, and mini-grants for infrastructure. Community engagement includes annual events (Winter Conference, FesTomato!), a weekly newsletter, and a member directory. The Farmers Process commercial kitchen is a physical facility enabling value-added processing support. Specialized initiatives address veteran farmers, farmer wellness, agroforestry, and market access. Programs often collaborate with USDA, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and other regional partners to deliver education and resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NOFA NJ Annual Membership Subscription-based annual membership program offering individuals, families, farms, and businesses access to NOFA NJ's resources including the member directory, weekly newsletters, technical resources, grants and funding announcements, market opportunities, and member dashboard.
• Mini-Grants Program Grant program providing up to $10,000 to small and beginning New Jersey farmers for key farm infrastructure improvements, including post-harvest wash/pack stations, processing equipment, livestock fencing, and on-farm market improvements.
• Farmers Process Community Kitchen Rental community kitchen in Milford, NJ that supports local farms in creating value-added products, offers workshop space for community education, and serves as a rental kitchen for local food businesses.
• Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) USDA-funded regional program providing farmer mentorship, training, and education to support organic farming transitions, with technical assistance on agronomy, certification, conservation planning, business development, regulations, and marketing.
• Farmer Wellness Program Comprehensive wellness initiative addressing mental health, financial literacy, injury prevention, and community support for New Jersey farmers, including health screenings, produce bag distributions, and educational resources.
• Veteran Farmers of New Jersey (VFNJ) Program providing agricultural training, week-long boot camps, networking, and support services for U.S. military veterans interested in farming and food systems.
• Good Grain Program Program supporting grain production and restoration of the New Jersey grainshed through stone-milling, connecting local grain farmers with markets, and value-added grain processing.
• Highlands Agroforestry Project Program focused on agroforestry practices, technical assistance, and conservation in the New Jersey Highlands region.
• Increasing Land, Capital & Market Access Program Program addressing barriers to farmland access, capital acquisition, and market opportunities for New Jersey farmers, particularly beginning and underserved farmers.
• NOFA NJ Annual Winter Conference Annual educational conference bringing together farmers, gardeners, and consumers for workshops, presentations, and networking around organic and sustainable agriculture.
• FesTomato! Annual Event Annual celebration of local tomatoes featuring vendor marketplace, tomato tastings with 20+ varieties, live music, farm tours, and community gathering at host farms.
• Technical Assistance Services Expert consultation and support for farmers on organic certification, integrated pest management, conservation practices, value-added processing, and business development.
• NOFA NJ Member Directory Online searchable directory of NOFA NJ member farms, food businesses, and agricultural service providers across New Jersey with over 200 entries.
• NOFA NJ Weekly Newsletter Weekly email newsletter containing event reminders, community news, job listings, organizational updates, and member-specific technical resources, grants, and funding announcements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Disbursed $250,000 in mini-grants to 27 NJ farms for key infrastructure improvements
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOFA NJ serves as the New Jersey lead for the USDA Transition to Organic Partnerships Program (TOPP), which provides regionally-based farmer mentorship, training, and education. Partnering organizations connect farmers with local mentors and provide technical assistance on agronomy, certification, conservation planning, business development, regulations, and marketing. TOPP is part of the USDA's Organic Transition Initiative focused on supporting and strengthening Organic markets.
• Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Pennsylvania Certified Organic for the TOPP program, connecting farmers with mentorship and technical assistance across the Northeast Mid-Atlantic region.
• Virtua HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Farmer Wellness Day, providing health resources including Skin Cancer Detection, Eat Well Produce Bags, and Blood Pressure Screenings for farmers.
• Pinelands Preservation AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost partner for the third Annual Farmer Wellness Day event at their facility.
• Rutgers Cooperative ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with Rutgers Extension agents and IPM specialists for farmer education, technical assistance, and Integrated Pest Management workshops.
• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOFA NJ supported NSAC in 2022 and 2024 to promote Farm Bill conservation programs and watershed health among NJ farmers.
• National Organic CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOFA NJ participates in National Organic Coalition activities including Washington D.C. fly-in events and advocacy meetings with Senators.
• Other NOFA ChapterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOFA NJ is one of seven NOFA Chapters across the Northeast, working collaboratively on Farm Bill advocacy, interstate council meetings, and shared initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC): National policy alliance advancing sustainable agriculture in federal policy. NOFA NJ collaborates with NSAC on Farm Bill advocacy; comparable in advocacy function but operates at national rather than state scale.
• Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO): Mid-Atlantic organic certification agency and NOFA NJ's partner on the USDA TOPP program. Comparable in serving organic farmers with education, certification, and technical support but operates at broader regional scale with a stronger certification-led model.
• New Jersey Farm Bureau: Statewide general-purpose agriculture advocacy organization representing NJ farmers. Less focused on organic-specific programming but overlaps on policy advocacy, member services, and farmer representation in Trenton.
• Northeast SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education): USDA-funded regional program supporting sustainable agriculture research, education, and grants across the Northeast. NOFA NJ partners with SARE for the Farmer Wellness Day program; comparable in delivering farmer education and grant programs but federally administered.
• Rutgers Cooperative Extension: The land-grant extension service for New Jersey providing farmer education, IPM support, and technical assistance. NOFA NJ already partners with Rutgers Extension; comparable audience with significantly larger institutional scale and state funding base.

Emerging players

• Intervale Center: Vermont-based nonprofit operating a community kitchen incubator and farmer development programs similar to NOFA NJ's Farmers Process initiative. Comparable in operating shared-use kitchen infrastructure for value-added farm products and farmer incubation, though at a more mature scale.

Direct peers

• NOFA-VT (Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont): Vermont chapter of NOFA, operating one of the largest and most established NOFA chapters with similar organic farming advocacy, education events, and membership programs. Comparable mission and chapter-level structure.
• NOFA-NY (Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York): Sibling chapter of NOFA NJ within the seven-chapter NOFA network. Operates the same membership-based nonprofit model supporting organic farmers, education, policy advocacy, and certification in New York — the most directly comparable peer in mission, structure, and programming.
• NOFA Massachusetts: Another sibling NOFA chapter providing organic farming education, technical assistance, and advocacy in Massachusetts. Closely mirrors NOFA NJ's programming structure and member-driven model.

Regional players

• Foodshed Alliance: New Jersey-based nonprofit focused on sustainable local food systems, farm viability, and food access. Comparable NJ geographic focus and nonprofit mission with overlapping programs in farmer support and food access advocacy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTEXe6NJA27bEwTkUMeQkYg
• Facebookfacebook.com/nofanj
• Instagraminstagram.com/nofanj
• Xx.com/nofanj
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northeast-organic-farming-association-of-nj

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey