We represent diverse regions across the United States engaged every day in the critical work of feeding people in public-serving and community-based institutions. We are the countless people behind every meal that gets served in public institutions, emboldened by our vision of what is possible: Growing healthy, sustainable food; strengthening resilient, local economies; uniting for fair wages and better working conditions; advocating for transformation; creating the framework for change through policies; and providing resources that carry this work forward. We recognize that all of us – whether serving food, caring for others, or organizing for change – are workers deserving of dignity. Diversity is our strength, and addressing historical inequities in food, land, income, housing, and health is essential to our shared purpose and joy. Our futures are intertwined.

We claim the right and responsibility to defend, govern, and shape public and public-serving institutions as pillars of our communities that contribute significantly to our quality of life and should not be taken for granted. These institutions educate our children and college students, care for sick and elderly people, provide services to veterans, entertain us in museums and stadiums, connect us to nature in state and national parks, support tribal communities, and so much more. While performing all of these vital functions, they also provide millions of meals, sourcing ingredients, products, and services from countless farms and businesses that create jobs and nourish our communities.

We gather at the Power of Procurement 2025 summit in Chicago, Illinois, united in our belief that good food transforms communities. Rooted in a rich tradition of civil rights, labor organizing, Black activism, food justice, and cultural diversity, Chicago is a vibrant and hopeful place for us to strengthen and grow our movement. Here, we articulate our collective resistance to the violent assault currently taking place to defund and dismantle the public sphere, and we band together in pursuit of a transformed food system that uplifts our communities. Together, we are the Good Food Purchasing movement.