Food procurement – how and from whom food is purchased – matters when it comes to ensuring the health and well-being for millions of families, workers, and consumers. Local Food Procurement improves access to healthy food for low income families and communities of color and also creates good, quality jobs resulting in significant benefits to workers including increased wealth, quality of life, and purchasing power for food, shelter, and healthcare.

A movement to purchase locally, fairly, and sustainably grown healthy food is beginning to build momentum – and these efforts are already helping families gain better access to healthy food, creating quality food system-related jobs, and supporting local entrepreneurship. Cities such as Los Angeles, Oakland, and Chicago and states such as Vermont are leading the way to enact equitable procurement policies that benefit low-income entrepreneurs of color, small family farmers, and sustainable agriculture, while providing consumers access to healthy food.

This webinar featured key policy advocates and leaders in the field. Speakers addressed how these efforts can be expanded and replicated.

Speakers included:

–Allison Hagey, Associate Director, PolicyLink (moderator)

–Navina Khanna, Fellow, Movement Strategy Center

–Alexa Delwiche, Managing Director, LA Food Policy Council

–Doug Bloch, Political Director, Teamsters Joint Council No. 7