The action and its aims
New York City, through the GFPP aims to create equal access to quality food, particularly targeting the most vulnerable populations, including school children, elderly, people in homeless shelters, or people in prisons. The end goal of this project is to improve the food the city serves to these populations. It defines quality food as minimally processed foods such as vegetables, fruits and wholegrain. It also means reducing salt, sugars and saturated fats in processed food, reducing red meat and eliminating artificial additives. The food should be locally purchased, from small or minority and women-owned businesses. To reach this goal New York City set up a procurement strategy (GFPP) to track and guide food purchases made by vendors and institutions.
When it was introduced
The Good Food Purchasing campaign was introduced in 2016 to improve equity, affordability, and accessibility, while keeping in mind the wellbeing of animals and environment. The campaign consisted of three phases: research, adaptation, and implementation. In 2022, the City of New York formalised the Good Food Purchasing Programme.
Why it was needed
Each year, New York City spends around US$200 million on feeding the most vulnerable in city-run organisations and institutions. But the food system is fragmented, complicated and not clear, leading to unequal access to affordable and healthy food. To create a more transparent and just system, the Good Food Purchasing Programme was created.
Who initiated it, who is involved
In 2016, The Food Chain Workers Alliance, Community Food Advocates, the City University of New York (CUNY) Urban Food Policy Institute, and the Centre for Good Food Purchasing established the NYC Good Food Purchasing Campaign. These organisations have been working together to create a coalition of local and national food system specialists who represent the five programme value areas of local economies, valued workforce, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare.
The eventual framework was developed by The Centre for Good Food Purchasing, who is partnered with The City of New York.
Impacts to date
Mayor Eric Adams formalised the City’s commitment to the Good Food Purchasing Program by signing Executive order 8 in February 2022. This order requires all vendors to report to the City on the origins of the food and meals they supply to the City. The New York City Framework for Good Food Purchasing won the Milan Pact Award 2022 under the category of governance.The Good Food Purchasing Programme is linked to the 10-year Food Policy Strategy, FoodForward NYC.
