VALUES – Good Food Purchasing Program

VALUESChristina Bronsing-Lazalde2021-11-02T15:37:52+00:00

LOCAL ECONOMIES

Support diverse, family and cooperatively owned, small and mid-sized agricultural and food processing operations within the local area or region.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Source from producers that employ sustainable production systems to reduce or eliminate synthetic pesticides and fertilizers; avoid the use of hormones, routine antibiotics and genetic engineering; conserve and regenerate soil and water; protect and enhance wildlife habitats and biodiversity; and reduce on-farm energy and water consumption, food waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Reduce menu items that have high carbon and water footprints, using strategies such as plant forward menus, which feature smaller portions of animal proteins in a supporting role.

VALUED WORKFORCE

Ensure that food suppliers respect workers’ rights to freedom of association and to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions, free from retaliation.

ANIMAL WELFARE

If animal products are a featured menu item, source from producers that provide healthy and human conditions for farm animals.

NUTRITION

Promote health and well-being by offering generous portions of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and minimally processed foods, while reducing salt, added sugars, saturated fats, and red meat consumption and eliminating artificial additives.

Improving equity, affordability, accessibility, and consumption of high quality culturally relevant Good Food in all communities is central to our focus on advancing Good Food purchasing practices.