Urging Good Procurement Practices in the Regional Context for Cities
Adopted at the 86th Annual Meeting in 2018
WHEREAS, Today, support for the local food system is growing as never before. Cities, school systems, and major institutions are looking for ways to put their dollars towards local sustainable food purchases; and
WHEREAS, Between 2009 and 2015, from small on-farm projects like high tunnels, to large-scale investments like food hubs, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested over $1 billion dollars in more than 40,000 local and regional food businesses and infrastructure projects; and
WHEREAS, 42% of all school districts in the United States (surveyed by USDA) participate in some form of farm to school activities; and
WHEREAS, The United States spends billions of dollars to treat diet-related, chronic illnesses. Hospitals can leverage their purchasing power to increase the availability of local, sustainable foods. As part of their mission of healing through the Healthier Hospitals Challenge, hospitals can model healthier eating behavior through the purchase of local and sustainable foods. ; and
WHEREAS, Census data indicates that schools purchased nearly $790 million in local food from farmers, ranchers, fishermen, food processors, and manufacturers in school year 2013 "? 2014. This represents an 105% increase over school year 2011-2012 when the first USDA Farm to School Census was conducted. Nearly half (47%) of these districts plan to purchase even more local foods in future school years. ; and
WHEREAS, Cities are creating viable models for local food procurement that can help institutions measure and make shifts in food purchases.; and
WHEREAS, Good local food policies promote values of local economies, environmental sustainability, valued workforces, animal welfare and sound nutrition. ; and
WHEREAS, The USDA launched the 'Food LINC' initiative to better connect demand for local food in ten urban areas with supply from farmers and ranchers, strengthening each region's local food business sector and also increasing consumer access to healthy, local food. ; and
WHEREAS, Cities have the tools and opportunities to expand local and sustainable procurement practices to focus on supporting local economies, environmental principles, local workforces, and good nutrition. ; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to spread awareness about the local sustainable food procurement, Mayors and cities can commit to changing their procurement practices to focus their spending on the values of their administrations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the US Conference of Mayors support a strategy of examining their current procurement practices, set goals for local food procurement, verify their spending, and institutionalize their practices.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That cities work together to test critical innovations, initiatives, policies, and awareness-building work around local and sustainable food procurement practices by working with organizations like the Healthy Hospitals Challenge, the Good Food Purchasing program, and the USDA's Food LINC initiative.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Solutions to food waste offer cities benefits in the form of financial savings, local economies boosted, emissions and food miles reduced, jobs created and healthy meals provided that can benefit our local areas.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the US Conference of Mayors supports the development and support of local and sustainable procurement practices and principles that drive local city and institutional food spending.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors supports the USDA's Food L.I.N.C. program and expanding value chain coordination efforts to promote local food procurement in cities and institutions..