Project Grant 23RFSPCA1072

PROJECT PURPOSE RECENT POLICY ADVANCES IN CALIFORNIA, INCLUDING A 2 BILLION STATE BUDGET PACKAGE FOR SCHOOL MEALS, HAVE CREATED A POTENTIAL TIPPING POINT FOR THE MOVEMENT TO USE INSTITUTIONAL PURCHASING OF GOOD FOOD (FOOD PRODUCED AND PROCURED IN A WAY THAT PROMOTES HEALTHY AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES, GOOD JOBS, LOCAL PRODUCERS, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND ANIMAL WELFARE) TO ACHIEVE BROAD ECONOMIC, HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND CLIMATE BENEFITS. TO LEVERAGE THIS FAVORABLE POLICY LANDSCAPE, PROJECT PARTNERS WILL ESTABLISH GOOD FOOD PURCHASING: CALIFORNIA, A NEW REGIONAL COLLABORATIVE TO CONNECT AND AMPLIFY IMPACTS OF ADVANCED GOOD FOOD PURCHASING INITIATIVES IN LOS ANGELES AND THE BAY AREA. THE COLLABORATIVE WILL ESTABLISH A MULTI-SECTOR, PUBLIC-PRIVATE, REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL: 1) INCREASE VALUES-ALIGNED FOOD PURCHASING BY INSTITUTIONS 2) BRING UNDERSERVED PRODUCERS SUPPLIERS INTO INSTITUTIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS 3) PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS, SUPPLIERS, INSTITUTIONS, AND LOCAL COALITIONS 4) NETWORK LOCAL INITIATIVES AND 5) USE COLLECTED DATA TO DEMONSTRATE REGIONAL IMPACTS AND ADVANCE GOOD FOOD PURCHASING POLICIES STRATEGIES. THE COLLABORATIVE WILL BE CONVENED BY THE CENTER FOR GOOD FOOD PURCHASING WITH LEAD PARTNERS THE LOS ANGELES FOOD POLICY COUNCIL (LAFPC), SPUR, AND COMMUNITY ALLIANCE WITH FAMILY FARMERS (CAFF), AND WILL BUILD ON ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS WITH CROSS-SECTOR LEADERS FROM EACH METROPOLITAN REGION (INCLUDING ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, PRODUCERS, SUPPLIERS, AND POLICYMAKERS) AND KEY CA GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.ACTIVITIES ESTABLISH AGGREGATE GOOD FOOD PURCHASING BASELINE DATA FROM THE 18 PARTICIPATING CALIFORNIA INSTITUTIONS USING ASSESSMENT TOOLS OF THE GOOD FOOD PURCHASING PROGRAM. CONVENE CROSS-SECTOR DELEGATES FROM LA BAY AREA TO DEVELOP JOINT STRATEGIES TO INCREASE VALUES-ALIGNED PURCHASING, SHARE PROGRESS TOWARDS COLLECTIVE GOALS, ENABLE COLLABORATION, AND SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION FEEDBACK LOOPS. COORDINATE WORK OF LOCAL LA BAY AREA FOOD POLICY COALITIONS TO ALIGN GOOD FOOD PURCHASING GOALS, PRIORITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES. ENGAGE ESTABLISHED NETWORK OF FOOD PRODUCERS AND SUPPLIERS TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO ENTRY TO INSTITUTIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS. BUILD CAPACITY IMPACT OF TARGETED VALUES-ALIGNED FOOD PURCHASING EFFORTS BY PROVIDING TOOLS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PRODUCERS SUPPLIERS, INSTITUTIONS, COALITIONS, AND POLICYMAKERS. IMPLEMENT ROBUST DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATION OF VALUES-ALIGNED INSTITUTIONAL PURCHASING TO DEMONSTRATE COMBINED ECONOMIC, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. DEVELOP, ADVANCE AND IMPLEMENT VALUES-BASED PROCUREMENT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING GOOD FOOD PURCHASING. SHARE DATA, STORIES, BEST PRACTICES, AND PARTNER ADVOCACY STRATEGIES TO GENERATE SUPPORT FOR GOOD FOOD PURCHASING EFFORTS. DELIVERABLES OUTCOMESREACH MORE THAN 800,000 BENEFICIARIES INCREASE SALES OF GOOD FOOD TO CALIFORNIA INSTITUTIONS BY 6,406,571 ENGAGE 526 REGIONAL FOOD BUSINESSES ABOUT NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES IN INSTITUTIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS CREATE OR MAINTAIN 70 JOBS ENGAGE 593 PARTNERS SUPPORT 8,781,102 IN LOCAL WAGES.INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES)MORE THAN 800,000 PEOPLE DAY EATING AT LA AND BAY AREA GFPP INSTITUTIONS MORE THAN 500 PARTICIPATING PRODUCERS SUPPLIERS SDA PRODUCERS AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION.SUBRECIPIENT, KEY PARTNER AND COLLABORATOR ACTIVITIESSUBRECIPIENTS LAFPC AND SPUR WILL ENGAGE LOCAL GOOD FOOD PURCHASING COALITIONS THAT THEY COORDINATE IN LOS ANGELES AND THE BAY AREA, RESPECTIVELY TO ALIGN THEIR LOCAL EFFORTS FOR REGIONAL IMPACT. CAFF WILL ENGAGE THEIR NETWORK OF HUNDREDS OF CALIFORNIA PRODUCERS AND SUPPLIERS TO FACILITATE THEIR ENTRY INTO INSTITUTIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS. KEY PARTNERS CA LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND CA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE WILL ENGAGE WITH PROJECT PARTNERS ON POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT.