The Good Food Purchasing Policy: A Tool to Intertwine Worker Justice with a Sustainable Food System

Public procurement is a strategy to transform the food system into one that is more sustainable and just. The Good Food Purchasing Policy (GFPP), developed by the Los Angeles Food Policy Council in 2012, leverages taxpayer funds to support local producers, environmentally sustainable production practices, good jobs, humane treatment of animals, and healthy food. Based on the experience of developing and winning the adoption of the policy in Los Angeles, GFPP has the potential to bring together the various sectors of the food movement around a shared vision and strategy for change. In this reflective essay, we provide an insiders’ look into the policy, its impact to date, and its potential in the future.