From Farmer to Mentor

Written by Alison Garber- Executive Support and Communications Manager, PCO

Seventeen years ago, with a quarter-acre plot and a vision rooted in sustainability, Andrea Davis-Cetina sowed the first seeds of what would become Quarter Acre Farm LLC. At the time, she was farming on a small parcel of leased land in California, guided by a passion for sustainable agriculture and a belief in the power of local food systems. Today, Andrea operates her certified organic farm in Greensboro, Maryland, on 12.6 acres, which includes an old farmhouse, woodland, a budding pawpaw orchard, and land dedicated to growing organic vegetables and seedlings.

Her journey from a beginning farmer to a Transition to Organic Partnership Program Organic Mentor and board member of California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) is one marked by growth, curiosity, and a deep commitment to demystifying the organic certification process for others. Whether she’s guiding a new farmer through a certification packet or harvesting organically certified tomatoes alongside her farm dog, Sunny, Andrea’s work is grounded in making organic agriculture accessible, transparent, and meaningful.

Andrea’s path to becoming a certified organic farmer wasn’t immediate. It was, like many journeys, born from conversations and a bit of trial and error. With a degree in sustainable agriculture from Hampshire College in Massachusetts and apprenticeships on many East Coast farms under her belt, Andrea was well-versed in environmentally conscious growing practices. But in the early days of Quarter Acre Farm, she didn’t think her tiny operation qualified for the USDA organic seal.

“I thought it was this exclusive club,” she recalls, “something reserved for large farms.” But conversations with peers who were organically farming just a few acres changed her mind. At the 2010 EcoFarm Conference in California, she visited the CCOF booth and decided to start the certification process. By that spring, she was officially certified organic, and has maintained her certification ever since.

At first, the paperwork seemed daunting. “If you just read the text, it’s intimidating,” Andrea explains. “But once I started talking to other organic farmers, I realized if they could do it, so could I.” Selling at farmers markets and restaurants, Andrea noticed that customers would often ask if her produce was certified organic. Without that label, she found herself having to explain her practices repeatedly, something that was time-consuming and often left customers unsure. Organic certification made the sales process much smoother. “It created an easier pathway for customer communication,” she says, “and it linked me to a community of organic growers.”

Quarter Acre Farm is a true reflection of Andrea’s values: the entire property is certified organic, with eight acres preserved as woodland and space carved out for agroforestry experiments and a future pawpaw orchard. Beyond organic fresh produce, Andrea and her husband, Juan Carlos, also offer prepared foods at a local farmers market, such as garlic scape pesto and pico de gallo, made with tomatoes and garlic harvested right from Quarter Acre Farm. Her husband, a professional chef, lends his expertise to the business through Quarter Acre EATS, leading the food preparation and joining Andrea at the market, where he serves up fresh tacos and other Mexican-inspired dishes on-site.

But Andrea’s impact extends well beyond the farm. As a board member for CCOF, she represents at-large members; farmers operating outside of California and Mexico. This work has brought her into close contact with the broader organic movement, including her past involvement with the Organic Trade Association.

“I’m often the smallest producer in the room,” Andrea says with a smile, “but it’s inspiring to know my voice still matters.” She has found it encouraging that leaders in the organic space are listening to small-scale and younger farmers. “There’s real change happening,” she adds. “Consumer demand is dictating the market, and the industry is responding.”

Andrea sees a bright future for the organic sector, particularly as more consumers gravitate toward organic transparency and sustainability in their food choices. “People get overwhelmed by labels,” she says, “but the organic seal is always something they recognize and trust.” When she shops, she often lets that label guide her. “If I don’t know the brand but it’s certified organic, I’m buying it.”

But she also sees critical areas in need of attention, particularly in the organic supply chain. “The biggest gap is in processing, handling, and transportation,” Andrea explains. “If organic integrity isn’t maintained after the product leaves the farm, then the certification loses its value.” Ensuring that wholesalers, handlers and retailers uphold organic standards is, in her view, the next frontier for the strengthening of the organic movement.

Another major concern is the dwindling support for the Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Andrea believes strongly in its importance, not just for individual farms, but for the health of the entire industry. “It was one of the few subsidies available to organic farmers,” she says. “If we want more organic food produced domestically, the support has to be there.”

Andrea calls for the program to be reinstated and for the amount to be increased to at least $1,550 to keep up with rising certification and inspection costs. “It’s not just about reimbursing producers,” she says. “It’s about investing in a food system that benefits everyone and the planet.”

Outside of farming and mentorship, Andrea expresses her love for food through Quarter Acre EATS, which she co-owns and operates with her husband. Many of the ingredients of their dishes come straight from Quarter Acre Farm, adding a fresh, hyper-local flavor to their offerings. When asked about her culinary heroes, Andrea doesn’t hesitate: “Julia Child.”

“I grew up watching PBS and loved her,” Andrea says. “She made things that seemed overwhelming feel completely approachable, and did it with such warmth and humility.” It’s an energy Andrea channels in her own work. Just as Julia Child brought French cooking to everyday kitchens, Andrea brings the message of organics to everyday farmers: she says “ this isn’t an exclusive club. Anyone can farm organically.”

Andrea’s leadership in the organic community also includes her role as a mentor through the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), which is designed to support farmers transitioning to organic production. She’s now in her second year of TOPP mentoring, with each experience offering unique insights. Her first mentee was still in the planning stages of starting a farm; they connected largely through phone calls and one on-farm visit to Quarter Acre Farm. Her current mentee is already in production and focused on herbs and, in a small-world moment, happens to be a regular customer at Andrea’s farmers market stand.

The TOPP mentorship involves monthly Zoom calls, farm visits, and, perhaps most importantly, certifier-neutral conversations about the practical side of organic certification. “One of the biggest things I do is help demystify the paperwork,” Andrea says. She remembers being in her mentees’ shoes during her own transition to organic. While filling out the Organic System Plan (OSP), a key document in the certification process, she got stuck on a question about how she cleaned her equipment. “I thought the answer had to be really formal,” she recalls. “But a fellow organic farmer simply asked, ‘How do you actually clean it?’ I said, ‘With soap and water.’ He told me, ‘Then that’s what you write!’” Andrea now shares this experience with her mentees to show that the paperwork isn’t as intimidating as it seems; it’s just about being honest and practical.

It’s moments like these, helping a fellow farmer realize they already have what it takes, that Andrea finds most fulfilling. “Being a mentor shows others that this process is doable,” she says. “It’s satisfying to be that bridge.”

For anyone considering becoming a TOPP mentor, Andrea’s advice is simple: “Give it a go!”

Like many, she was initially worried about the time commitment. But she’s found the program to be flexible and low-pressure. “If you can spare an hour or two a month, it’s totally manageable,” she says. In fact, the challenge isn’t in keeping up with the workload; it’s in helping mentees stay connected and supported. “Most of it is just checking in and being available.”

Andrea also sees mentorship as a powerful tool for outreach. “There are a lot of myths about being certified organic,” she says. “Some conventional farmers don’t even know programs like TOPP exist.” She believes more awareness-building of the National Organic Program and TOPP, especially through TOPP events, field days, and one-on-one conversations, could help bridge this knowledge gap.

Andrea Davis-Cetina’s story is one of transformation, not just of land, but of perspective. From her first steps into farming on a quarter acre to her leadership on the national organic stage, she has consistently focused on inclusion, education, and real-world support.

At its heart, her work is about connection: connecting farmers to organic resources, consumers to trustworthy food, and communities to a healthier, more sustainable future. Whether through the rows of organic vegetables she grows or the mentees she guides, Andrea is planting the seeds of a movement that is rooted, resilient, and ready to grow.

And she’ll be the first to tell you: you don’t have to be big to be impactful. You just have to begin.

To learn more about the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, head to www.organictransition.org

Learn more about Quarter Acre Farm at www.quarter-acre.com

NOTE: The Transition to Organic Partnership Program is a certifier-neutral program.

Cover photo: Garlic, Quarter Acre Farm, Spring 2025

First photo: Andrea Davis-Cetina and Sunny, Quarter Acre Farm

Second photo: Greenhouse, Quaarter Acre Farm, Spring 2025