Good Food Purchasing Program – Boston
Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Vendor and Product Properties, Marketing and Regulation, Desirability, Norms and Preferences, Social Capital
Local
Citizens/Consumers, Businesses, Public Sector
Ongoing
The program aims to create a healthier and more equitable food system in Boston by leveraging Boston Public Schools' large-scale purchasing power. The Good Food Purchasing Program provides a framework for tracking procurement against five values: local economies, environmental sustainability, valued workforce, animal welfare, and nutrition.
The initiative began in 2018 when Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services expressed interest in adopting the Good Food Purchasing Program. Over 20 stakeholder organizations formed a coalition to support this effort, culminating in a city council hearing in December 2018. The ordinance builds on existing commitments to social and environmental justice within Boston’s food systems.
The program is supported by Boston Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services and Corporate Accountability, with input from coalition partners. Progress is measured through data collection on procurement practices, reporting against the program's five core values.
Implemented in Boston Public Schools, the city’s largest purchaser of food that serves more than 11.1 million meals per year at 125 cafeterias and satellite schools, to more than 57,000 students.
https://goodfoodcities.org/portfolio/boston/?portfolioCats=32