Bruce Summers, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (Photo credit: William Atkins/The George Washington University)

Food production plays a significant and increasing role in greenhouse gas emissions, with negative consequences to our soils, waters, and climate. As researcher Brent Kim explained, “if we do not work to urgently reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from food and agriculture, we will almost certainly exceed climate change mitigation targets.” In the same way that federal energy procurement has accelerated the transition to clean energy across the US economy, food procurement can be a driver for the just, healthy, and sustainable food system we need. In a time of accelerating climate crises, federal food procurement is a powerful tool for promoting resilience. 

Across the nation, there are examples of hospitals, correctional facilities, schools, and local government venues implementing values-based purchasing. We heard from local governments about regional collaboration to improve the quality and positive impact of their food purchases and from union organizers about the critical need for institutional purchasers to support labor agreements and justice for workers. Federal changemakers can look to state and local partners for prototypes and tools, such as bid solicitation language, and for creativity in knowing where to start and what’s possible. Local communities pioneered values-aligned food purchasing—the federal government should follow their lead.

Several agencies and departments are already engaged in important work to align federal food purchasing with community values. It is critical that we have communications channels that allow for coordination and amplification of these efforts. Katie Ettman, a leader in the good food purchasing movement in the Bay Area of California, credited progress at the local level to the power of aggregating demand and shared language: “The reason you get to hear from Cook County and the Bay Area and New York is because we are using shared values with shared definitions that are trackable.” Ettman cautioned, “As you fight for changes in policy, don’t recreate the wheel.”  

We learned about a recent study showing the job creation potential of a more localized food system. We also got the scoop on a new, game-changing Office of Management and Budget rule that determines how federal grantees can spend federal money. The rule allows for practices like targeted hiring in disadvantaged communities and rewarding bidders for providing better wages and benefits. This is especially critical since, as HEAL Food Alliance campaigns director José Oliva reminded us, “eight of the ten lowest paid jobs are in the food system.” Madeline Janis, executive director of Jobs to Move America, called us to action: “There is no reason why every dollar we spend in this country cannot result in good jobs, equity, and expression of our values—as well as a good, high quality product that builds local communities. There’s no reason we can’t have the criteria embedded in the request for proposals or the invitation for bids.”  

Arturo Rodriguez, President Emeritus of United Farm Workers (Photo credit: William Atkins/The George Washington University)

Arturo Rodriguez, President Emeritus of United Farm Workers, in conversation with José Andrés, chef, humanitarian, and founder of the Global Food Institute (Photo credit: William Atkins/The George Washington University)

We convened in DC because of our important partnerships with elected and appointed officials who make the ultimate decisions about how to spend federal dollars. We were encouraged to hear Representatives Jim McGovern and Chellie Pingree, as well as White House Senior Advisor for Federal Procurement Policy Christine Harada, affirm the responsibility of the federal government to lead by example and steward taxpayer dollars responsibly. Harada closed out the final session of the summit by saying that the federal government “has an obligation to ensure that we’re not procuring goods that are contrary to the public good.” Harada encapsulated the overarching takeaway from the summit by affirming “procurement can indeed be a catalyst for change.”