Become a mentor
Help grow the organic community
Mentors in Kernel draw on their valuable lived experience to help fellow farmers, ranchers, and/or handlers navigate the transition to organic and the process of becoming USDA Organic certified. Kernel intentionally matches mentors and mentees based on areas of expertise and geographical location to ensure compatibility.
Producers and handlers with at least three years of experience with USDA Organic certification are eligible to become mentors.
Mentor applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Mentor responsibilities
Kernel mentor activities include, but are not limited to:
Providing ~40 hours of mentorship per mentee annually (up to 5 mentees per mentor)
Working one-on-one with mentee(s)
Sharing guidance, advice, and motivation throughout the organic transition process
Utilizing MentorPRO for training, activity updates, and ongoing communication
Mentor benefits
Kernel mentor benefits include, but are not limited to:
$1,000 annual compensation per mentee (up to 5 mentees per mentor)
Access to educational resources and events
Professional skill development
Networking and relationship building
Opportunity to take part in growing and strengthening the organic community
Taking mentorship to the next level with MentorPRO
We partnered with MentorPRO to design an online mentorship platform specifically for Kernel participants. This platform is a key element of our program to streamline communication, optimize the mentorship experience, and provide helpful resources.
Mentors and mentees in Kernel can access MentorPRO anytime anywhere, on their mobile phone as an app or on their computer as a website.
Features of our MentorPRO platform include:
Private messaging between mentors, mentees, and groups
An organic resource hub
Announcements and event tracking
Check-ins to support progress
Frequently asked questions
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Kernel mentors will receive $1,000 per mentee for each federal fiscal year (October 1–September 30), for up to five mentees. Compensation will be provided by the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems in two installments:
Fall: $500 per mentee
Spring: $500 per mentee
Payments will be made after mentors complete their twice-yearly mentorship activity update in MentorPRO.
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Yes. If you were a mentor in TOPP and would like to continue mentoring through Kernel, you will need to submit a Kernel mentor application. The application takes approximately 5 minutes to complete.
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No. If you completed TOPP mentor training, you do not need to complete Kernel mentor training.
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Yes. Mentor-mentee pairs from TOPP are welcome to continue their mentorship through Kernel if both participants would like to do so. Former TOPP mentors and mentees can indicate this on the Kernel application.
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Kernel builds on the success of TOPP, but it is a distinct program with a different structure and approach. By all accounts, TOPP was a highly successful $100 million USDA program (see this 2024 Impact Report). Because funding for Kernel is less than 5% of TOPP, we have chosen to focus solely on mentorship.
Some of the key differences include:
TOPP was a USDA program, while Kernel is an initiative of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University.
While TOPP supported a range of activities, Kernel is specifically designed to carry forward and strengthen its mentorship component.
Kernel uses the MentorPRO online platform to facilitate communication, provide resources, support regular check-ins, and enhance the mentorship experience.
Kernel does not provide funding for events hosted by other organizations, such as organic field days and workshops. Instead, the program focuses its resources on high-quality mentorship and participant support.
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No. In-person visits are encouraged but not required.