This Fall, The Organic Center and Organic Trade Association (OTA) are hosting interns— partially funded through the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) under the leadership of the Organic Farmers Association and its Organic Career Network (OCN). The program is a nationwide initiative to grow the next generation of organic agriculture leaders, helping students and early career professionals identify future work opportunities within our sector and mentoring them.
OCN priority sectors reflect opportunities across organic throughout the supply chain, from research, education, farming, certification, and inspection, to policy, advocacy, retail, and marketing. Through this network, non- and for-profit organizations have opened their doors to students from around the US – both virtually and in person – for 10 to 12 weeks per semester, where interns learn with and develop key skills, while networking with their peers in a cohort.
OTA and The Organic Center staff have committed to core values in the last year that include our commitment to driving change and embracing a growth mindset. One way that we’re modeling these commitments this Fall is through the internship openings – helping young people interested in working in the organic sector, and whose skillsets align with our projects, join us and grow together to forward change. It’s an exciting opportunity for our teams to mentor while benefiting the organic movement through our shared work.
We’ve also committed to facilitating a separate cohort for our interns: Leah Guercio, Amit Chandramouly (Organic Trade Association), and Erin Epel (The Organic Center). They’ll connect with staff and learn about their unique paths to their current roles, walking away with a clearer understanding of the breadth of the organic sector and the diversity of backgrounds and skills on our staff that best equip us to grow and protect organic.
Elias Miller, PhD, The Organic Center’s Science Program Manager shares that the commitment to facilitate a cohort with The Organic Center and OTA interns not only “highlights the complementary strengths” of both organizations, but also “our shared commitment to cultivating the next generation of leaders in the organic sector.” Moreover, it’s exciting how the internship project will help The Organic Center “make a meaningful impact on students and educators by providing a resource guide and recommendations for culturally relevant learning materials” through their project.
The interns are working with their respective organizations into December 2025, tackling projects that benefit people and animals, businesses, and the planet, and we’re thrilled to have them join us. As they develop and broaden their skills in domains like research, project management, and data analysis, they expand our organizational capacities, their understanding of organic food systems, and their knowledge of future organic career pathways.
In her internship with The Organic Center, Erin Epel supports national efforts to increase awareness and education around organic food production to promote equitable food systems, environmental sustainability, and human health by connecting organic agricultural curricula with evidence-based teaching and learning practices. With a passion for food systems, Erin joins us as a master’s student at Arizona State University’s Swette Center in pursuit of her Master of Science in Sustainable Food Systems.
“I was drawn to this internship because I wanted to put the knowledge and skills that I am learning in my academic program to use. Focusing on the development of strong and effective educational materials for organic agriculture seemed like the perfect opportunity to make a real change in the community. I look forward to seeing where my project leads and the impacts it has long-term.”
As a recent graduate from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language and Literature, Leah Guercio joins OTA to build on her passion for sustainable agriculture. Currently working at OTA as a Project Management Intern, Leah contributes to national efforts as a part of OTA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program that strengthens organic agriculture, farmer support networks, and sustainable food systems – supporting the work of OTA’s National TOPP project focused on market development.
“I was initially interested in this internship due to the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in project management while maintaining the connection to organic agriculture and sustainability initiatives. My experience so far has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to develop practical skills while supporting programs that strengthen food systems.”
Joining us this week, Amit Chandramouly comes to OTA as a recent graduate of Syracuse University with an academic background in policy, biology, and data analytics, having most recently worked at USDA’s Southeast Climate Hub on developing science extension programs in the Southeast. Amit shared, “I’m excited to uncover and investigate emerging trends and market opportunities in organic through this internship, as well as support data reporting and analysis on OTA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program.”
Each intern reflects the passion and energy of young people who are committed to growing the organic movement, and we’re excited to grow together with them. As their internships wrap up this December, look for a report-out on each of their projects, what they’ve learned, and how we’re continuing to elevate the work to support the growth of the organic movement. To Erin, Leah, and Amit – thanks for joining us!
Curious about the work of our interns or how to support OTA and The Organic Center in future internships? Reach out to Libby Mucciarone, Director of Programs (OTA) or Dr. Elias Miller, Manager of Science Programs (The Organic Center). If you’re looking for information on the Organic Career Network or how your organization could host an intern in 2026, go to https://organiccareernetwork.org. Applications for organizations and businesses to host an intern for spring 2026 are open!