Organic Consumers Association
Organic Consumers Association is a 501(c)(3) grassroots nonprofit founded in 1998 and headquartered in Finland, Minnesota. It campaigns for organic food, regenerative agriculture, and consumer protection through newsletters, action alerts, and a coalition of affiliated advocacy organizations, funded by donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersFinland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Organic Consumers Association does
Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is a 501(c)(3) grassroots nonprofit public interest organization founded in 1998 and headquartered in Finland, Minnesota. OCA campaigns for health, justice, regeneration, peace, and democracy, with an operational focus on organic food advocacy, anti-pesticide mobilization (glyphosate, atrazine, dicamba), GMO regulation, regenerative agriculture promotion, and food safety. The organization serves individual health-conscious consumers, organic and regenerative farmers, and environmental/food justice activists, operating with a staff of 11–50.
OCA's core offerings include a weekly email newsletter (Organic Bytes), a portfolio of 25+ active campaigns with associated action alerts and petition infrastructure, a Regenerative Farm Map directory, publications such as "The Regenerative Agriculture Solution," and the newly published Regeneration International Standard certification framework. The technology stack is fundamentally non-product: the organization operates through its website (organicconsumers.org), email newsletter, and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube) rather than proprietary technology products.
OCA's revenue model is donation-driven. As a 501(c)(3), it is funded primarily through individual tax-deductible contributions, donor bundles (e.g., $50 donation paired with a free book copy), and grants. The organization does not sell products or services, has no disclosed customer contracts, and generates no commercial revenue. Strategic reach is amplified through a network of affiliated and partner entities including Regeneration International (co-founded 2014 with Vandana Shiva), Vía Orgánica, Billion Agave Project, Organic Farmers Association, and Organic Retail & Consumer Alliance. Following the 2022 death of co-founder Ronnie Cummins, the organization continues to operate under National Director Rose Welch and Policy Director Alexis Baden-Mayer.
Organic Consumers Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Organic Consumers Association
- Legal name
- Organic Consumers Association
- Website
- https://organicconsumers.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Organic Consumers Association is a 501(c)(3) grassroots nonprofit founded in 1998 and headquartered in Finland, Minnesota. It campaigns for organic food, regenerative agriculture, and consumer protection through newsletters, action alerts, and a coalition of affiliated advocacy organizations, funded by donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Organic Consumers Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Advocacy and Consumer Education
- akta.pro primary industry
- Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)
Keywords
Where Organic Consumers Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Finland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Organic Consumers Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Organic Consumers Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Organic Consumers Association is a grassroots nonprofit that campaigns for health, justice, and sustainability through its Organic Bytes newsletter, advocacy campaigns (e.g., Millions Against Monsanto, Save Organic Standards, Regenerate the Farm Bill), the Regenerative Farm Map directory, and published resources such as "The Regenerative Agriculture Solution" and the Regeneration International Standard certification framework. Its supporters receive weekly action alerts and educational content; the organization is funded by tax-deductible donations.
Product overview
Organic Consumers Association operates as a grassroots nonprofit organization offering advocacy campaigns and educational resources focused on organic food, regenerative agriculture, environmental health, and consumer justice. The organization provides the Organic Bytes Newsletter as its primary communication vehicle, publishes books such as 'The Regenerative Agriculture Solution,' publishes the Regeneration International Standard certification framework, maintains a Regenerative Farm Map directory, and runs various Campaigns and Action Alerts enabling supporters to engage on policy issues including pesticide regulation, food labeling, and agricultural policy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Organic Bytes Newsletter
- The Regenerative Agriculture Solution
- Regeneration International Standard
- Regenerative Farm Map
- Campaigns and Action Alerts
Quantifiable outcome
- Newsletter #946 reaches subscribers with information on ultra-processed food dangers and actionable campaign steps
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Organic Consumers Association
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Organic Consumers Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Organic Consumers Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Regeneration InternationalcoreOCA co-founded Regeneration International with international allies. RI focuses on promoting regenerative agriculture and true sustainability globally. OCA publishes content from RI leadership including André Leu's Regeneration International Standard documentation. The organizations share the mission of regenerating ecosystems, climate, health, and communities.
- Vía OrgánicacoreListed under OCA Projects as a partner organization, suggesting collaboration on organic and regenerative agriculture initiatives, likely in Latin America.
- Billion Agave ProjectcoreOCA promotes the Billion Agave Project under its Regeneration International partnership. This initiative supports landscape-scale restoration using agave agroforestry systems to rebuild degraded soil, reduce erosion, and sequester carbon. Featured in the book 'The Regenerative Agriculture Solution' co-authored by Ronnie Cummins.
- North Shore AgroEcology CenterminorListed under OCA Projects, suggesting collaboration on agroecology education and research initiatives in Minnesota region.
- Organic Retail & Consumer Alliance (ORCA)minorListed under OCA Projects. ORCA represents organic retailers and works to strengthen the organic supply chain and consumer access to organic products.
- Chelsea Green PublishingcoreChelsea Green Publishing published 'The Regenerative Agriculture Solution' by Ronnie Cummins and André Leu with foreword by Vandana Shiva. OCA promotes the book and offers donors a free copy for $50 donations. Chelsea Green represents OCA's thought leadership in regenerative agriculture.
- Organic Farmers AssociationcoreOCA works closely with the Organic Farmers Association on advocacy for organic farmers, including policy updates on USDA's impact on organic agriculture. OCA publishes policy updates from OFA's Lily Hawkins regarding Farm Bill and organic program threats.
- Real Organic ProjectminorOCA promotes content from the Real Organic Project including the Real Organic Podcast. The organizations share goals of maintaining organic integrity and exposing industrial agriculture practices that undermine organic standards.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Organic Consumers Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Environmental Working Group: Consumer advocacy nonprofit producing actionable research on food, water, and consumer products, including the Dirty Dozen produce list. Closely aligned with OCA's consumer-education mission around pesticide exposure and food safety with a comparable donor-funded model.
- Food & Water Watch: Grassroots advocacy organization mobilizing people to build a food system that is sustainable, just, and equitable. Comparable to OCA on food-system policy campaigns (e.g., ultra-processed food, GMO labeling, corporate accountability in agriculture) with similar digital mobilization tactics.
- Friends of the Earth: International environmental advocacy organization with substantial U.S. food and agriculture program (e.g., agroecology,反对 GMO). Strong peer to OCA on environmental-climate intersection with food systems and corporate accountability campaigns.
- Center for Food Safety: Nonprofit advocacy organization focused on challenging harmful food production technologies (GMOs, pesticides, irradiated food) and promoting organic/sustainable agriculture. Direct comparable to OCA's anti-pesticide, organic-standards campaigns and litigation-driven advocacy model.
- Beyond Pesticides: 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to protecting health and the environment by eliminating pesticide use. Direct peer to OCA's Stop Toxic Sludge and Truth About Glyphosate campaigns, with overlapping issue areas around lawn care, organic land management, and pesticide regulation.
- National Organic Coalition: Alliance of organic and sustainable agriculture organizations advocating for strong organic standards and farmer integrity. Directly comparable to OCA's 'Save Organic Standards' campaign, with shared USDA policy advocacy focus on NOP rules and organic certification integrity.
- Pesticide Action Network: International network of organizations working to replace hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound alternatives. Directly comparable to OCA's campaigns against glyphosate/Roundup, atrazine, and Bayer/ChemChina herbicides, with similar grassroots mobilization model.
Emerging players
- Rodale Institute: Nonprofit research and education organization focused on regenerative organic agriculture, operating experimental farms and farmer training programs. Closely aligned with OCA's regenerative agriculture advocacy and content via Regeneration International, though focused on research rather than policy mobilization.
Broad incumbents
- Natural Resources Defense Council: Large, established environmental advocacy organization with broad portfolio spanning climate, water, energy, and food/agriculture. Comparable to OCA on food-system advocacy (e.g., glyphosate, soil health) but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
- Sierra Club: Mass-membership environmental organization with food/agriculture and regenerative agriculture programs but broader climate and conservation focus. Comparable on grassroots mobilization scale and donor-funded operating model, but with a much wider issue portfolio than OCA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Organic Consumers Association social profiles
Digital presenceOrganic Consumers Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Organic Consumers Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Organic Consumers Association subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Organic Consumers Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Organic Consumers Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Organic Consumers Association
What does Organic Consumers Association do?
Organic Consumers Association is a grassroots nonprofit that campaigns for health, justice, and sustainability through its Organic Bytes newsletter, advocacy campaigns (e.g., Millions Against Monsanto, Save Organic Standards, Regenerate the Farm Bill), the Regenerative Farm Map directory, and published resources such as "The Regenerative Agriculture Solution" and the Regeneration International Standard certification framework. Its supporters receive weekly action alerts and educational content; the organization is funded by tax-deductible donations.
Is Organic Consumers Association a public or private company?
Organic Consumers Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Organic Consumers Association founded?
Organic Consumers Association was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Organic Consumers Association based?
Organic Consumers Association is headquartered in Finland, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Organic Consumers Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Environmental Working Group, Food & Water Watch, Friends of the Earth, Center for Food Safety, Beyond Pesticides, National Organic Coalition and Pesticide Action Network. Rodale Institute is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club.
Does Organic Consumers Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Organic Consumers Association.
What industry is Organic Consumers Association in?
Organic Consumers Association's product category is Nonprofit Advocacy and Consumer Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAMAA, Organic Certification Services.