Episode 9: Alexa Delwiche, Center for Good Food Purchasing

“This work has always been about system change.”

Alexa Delwiche is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Good Food Purchasing, which co-created and manages the Good Food Purchasing Program. GFPP works closely with public institutions, unions, community groups and municipal governments to implement ethical sourcing and procurement standards in order to reform regional food systems and give everyone better food options. They have worked closely with school districts and other school meal reform groups to make substantial changes to the food quality and options available for school children in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Chicago and many other cities. Alexa took time out of her crazy schedule to give us the download on GFPP’s history, criteria, stakeholders and impact to food systems. For more info, go to https://goodfoodpurchasing.org .

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Episode #9 Notes

0:45 - Tell us about food procurement.

4:15 - How did your experience at United Farm Workers help formulate and start your work in the Good Food Purchasing Program?

10:30 - What role did unions and community organizations play in starting the Good Food Purchasing Program?

20:30 - Could you describe the main pillars of purchasing standards under the Good Food Purchasing Program?

25:15 - How is procurement typically handled by large, public institutions? What is the norm here?

28:00 - What are examples of institutions that have embraced Good Food Purchasing practices, and what have the impacts been?

32:30 - How about school foods? What impact has the Good Food Purchasing Program had here?

35:00 - Have you received pushback from institutions food procurement policies with regards to increased prices and standards?

38:30 - How do you measure the impacts of the Good Food Purchasing Program?

44:30 - How does community activism and civic engagement play into GFPP activity on the ground?

49:00 - How has COVID-19 impacted the work of GFPP and of the institutions who participate?

55:00 - What GFPP implementation can look like a statewide or regional scale.

59:00 - How do you see GFPP standard evolving?

1:01 - Errol on Whole Foods and procurement. And was there any feedback from the private sector on GFPP standards?

1:08 - What’s on your bookshelf?

On Fire, Naomi Klein

Captain Underpants, Dav Pilkey

Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser

Stuffed and Starved, Raj Patel