WHO WE ARE
The Center for Good Food Purchasing uses the power of procurement to create a transparent and equitable food system that prioritizes the health and well-being of people, animals, and the environment. We do this through the nationally-networked adoption and implementation of the Good Food Purchasing Program by major institutions.


“Governments have few sources of leverage over increasingly globalized food systems – but public procurement is one of them. When sourcing food for schools, hospitals and public administrations, governments have a rare opportunity to support more nutritious diets and more sustainable food systems in one fell swoop.”
HOW WE WORK
A just and more regenerative food system is possible when we face the same direction together. The Good Food Purchasing Program unites stakeholders from across the food system around shared values and strategy. Together, we:
INCREASE COORDINATION
and alignment in the food movement through comprehensive, metric-driven standards that reflect a shared vision and collective values.
ENHANCE CAPACITY
of local grassroots coalitions and support for local procurement policy efforts to ensure that public food contracts reflect community values.
ACTIVATE POLICY
to institutionalize buyers’ commitments to Good Food and supply chain transparency.
EMPOWER GOVERNMENTS
by sharing tools to make informed procurement decisions, set procurement targets, and measure impact.
LEVERAGE BUYING POWER
and increased supply chain knowledge to drive change in the food industry towards suppliers that support our values.
OUR TEAM
STAFF & BOARD
PARTNERS
In cities across the country, the Center for Good Food Purchasing works with a network of cross-sector partners at the national and local levels to expand the reach and impact of the Good Food Purchasing Program.
NATIONAL PARTNERS
Core national partners include Food Chain Workers Alliance and Real Food Media.
Leading national food and farm organizations support expansion by sharing expertise and resources on advocacy, policy, the program values, research, impact evaluation, communications, coalition building and much more.
LOCAL PARTNERS
Local lead partners represent place-based coalitions, ensuring the work is grounded in local priorities, coordinating coalition-building and campaign development, and facilitating political and institutional relationships.
Local institutional partners commit to implementing the Good Food Purchasing Program values and framework, championing the program internally, participating in the multi-phased assessment process, and using assessment results to guide purchasing shifts in each of the values.
LOCAL CAMPAIGNS & POLICY ADOPTIONS
Cross-sectoral, community-based local coalitions help ensure that Program adoption and implementation in a city or region reflects community priorities and complements the existing work and expertise on the ground in that city. Adopting a policy to commit to Program values, and transparent, equitable, and accountable implementation is a critical step to ensure transformative, ongoing engagement.
ENROLLED INSTITUTIONS
Institutions that enroll in the Good Food Purchasing Program commit to meeting the baseline standard in each of the Program’s five values, incorporating the Good Food Purchasing Standards and reporting requirements into solicitations and contracts, establishing supply chain transparency to verify performance, and reporting on progress annually.
ANCHORS IN ACTION PARTNERS
Learn more about Anchors in Action, an alliance with Health Care Without Harm and Real Food Challenge that aims to drive food system change by unifying demand within and across institutional networks for supply chains that benefit all people, especially underserved and marginalized communities.
OUR SUPPORTERS
Support for the Center for Good Food Purchasing is provided in part through the generosity of the following funders:








We would also like to thank Community Partners for their fiscal sponsorship.
GOOD FOOD HEROES
Community. Flexibility. Quality. Relationships. Uncertainty. Resilience. Essential. Proud.
These are a few of the words our institutional partners used to describe the last two years. While Covid-19 has certainly changed the way institutions serve food to their communities, it hasn’t diminished their commitment to put their values front and center—all while securing protections to keep food service workers and communities safe throughout the pandemic. This Food Day, we celebrate and offer our immense gratitude to the food service staff and essential food workers across the country who have kept clear eyes and an unwavering commitment to ensure their communities are not just fed, but nourished.
JOBS & INTERNSHIPS
The Center is currently hiring an Analyst. Please see the job description and instructions for how to apply here.
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