The OCA’s Weekly 3

OCA’s Weekly 3 offers three simple, impactful actions each week to drive change in environmental policy, sustainable agriculture, and personal health. These actions are designed to raise awareness, influence decision-makers, and create lasting change. We’ve already seen significant victories, but real change happens through collective action. By committing to just three actions each week, you become part of a movement for a healthier planet and a more just food system. Together, we can make an even bigger difference!

1. Take Action: Save Local, Regenerative & Organic!

Join us in calling for immediate action to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release $2.3 billion in withheld payments owed to over 30,000 local, regenerative, and organic farmers. While industrial agriculture has recently received an additional $10 billion, these sustainable farmers are left without crucial support. By participating in this campaign, you can help ensure the USDA honors its commitments, promoting regenerative agriculture practices that enhance soil health, combat climate change, and reduce public exposure to harmful pesticides.

Your voice can make a significant impact in advocating for equitable funding and a healthier food system.

2. Personal Health: Ditch the Fake Meat!

Replacing fake meat products with whole, minimally processed plant-based foods into your diet may offer mental health benefits and support overall well-being. A study by the University of Surrey, as reported by Newsweek, found that vegetarians consuming ultra-processed plant-based meat alternatives—such as vegetarian burgers, sausages, and nuggets—were 42% more likely to experience depression compared to those who consumed whole food proteins like chickpeas, eggs, beans, lentils, and quinoa. The study also noted that this increased depression risk was not associated with higher intake of salt, sugar, or saturated fat, suggesting other factors related to ultra-processed foods may contribute to this mental health outcome.

3. Environment: Shop Regenerative Organic!

By opting for products from farms that prioritize these sustainable practices, you contribute to healthier soils and a reduction in atmospheric carbon emissions. Making informed choices at the grocery store supports farming methods that promote environmental sustainability and combat climate change.

Learn more about how soil and regenerative farming impact climate change