In addition to our work with producers, retailers and restaurants, the ASPCA is working in cities around the country—alongside health, environment, education and fair labor advocates—to help public institutions source higher-welfare and more just, sustainable food.
The ASPCA is a national partner to the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP)—a food procurement tool that helps school systems, municipalities, and other public entities source food that meets five value criteria:
- Animal Welfare
- Nutrition
- Support for Local Economies
- Worker Justice and Safety
- Environmental Sustainability
As large-scale purchasers of animal products, these institutions affect the lives of millions of animals, and a shift in their preferences can drive wide-reaching improvements in farm animal treatment.
Institutions implementing GFPP can select between two avenues to meet the required animal welfare standards: they can either devote a percentage of their food dollars to animal welfare-certified meat, milk and/or eggs (allowable certifications including those recommended by the ASPCA), or they can simply reduce their total volume of meat, milk and/or eggs by allowable percentages. Each approach matches well with the ASPCA's Shop With Your Heart program, which encourages consumers, companies and institutions to swap factory-farmed food for higher welfare alternatives including plant-based and animal welfare-certified products.
The ASPCA helped craft GFPP’s current animal welfare standards, and we support campaigns in localities around the country by providing issue expertise, lobbying, activating our local supporter bases, testifying and even providing funding. The ASPCA also participates in a strategy forum to help to ensure GFPP’s ongoing expansion and development. Our work on GFPP is just one facet of our broader Shop With Your Heart program – visit those pages to learn more!
Successes
New York City – With support from the ASPCA, New York City committed to implementation of GFPP in an Executive Order signed by Mayor Eric Adams in February 2022. In June 2022, the New York City Council introduced legislation to adopt GFPP.
Austin Independent School District (TX) – The Austin Independent School District voted in 2019 to adopt GFPP, with support from the ASPCA.
Chicago Public Schools – The Chicago Public School Board voted unanimously in 2017 to adopt GFPP, with support from the ASPCA.
Chicago Park District – The Chicago Park District voted in 2017 to adopt GFPP.
Cincinnati Public Schools (OH) – The Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education voted in 2019 to adopt GFPP, with support from the ASPCA.
City of Boston – Boston's City Council voted unanimously in 2019 to adopt GFPP, with support from the ASPCA. This includes Boston Public Schools. [Ordinance PDF]
City of Chicago – The City of Chicago voted unanimously in 2017 to adopt GFPP, with support from the ASPCA.
Cook County (IL) – The Board of Commissioners voted in 2018 to adopt GFPP, with support from the ASPCA.
Los Angeles – The City of Los Angeles adopted the GFPP in 2012. The Los Angeles Unified School District likewise adopted the GFPP in 2012 and renewed its commitment, with support from the ASPCA, in 2014.
Oakland (CA) – The Oakland unified school district voted unanimously in 2016 to adopt the GFPP, with support from the ASPCA.
San Diego – The Escondido Union School District’s Board of Education voted unanimously in 2020 to adopt the GFPP, with support from the ASPCA. [Resolution PDF]
San Francisco – The San Francisco Unified School District’s Board of Education voted unanimously in 2016 to adopt the GFPP, with support from the ASPCA.
Washington, D.C. Public Schools – The Washington, D.C. City Council voted unanimously in 2018 to adopt a student health and wellness package that includes GFPP, with support from the ASPCA.
The ASPCA is working to help local communities pass the Good Food Purchasing Program in cities and school systems around the country (check out this U.S. map to see both active and succesfully completed campaigns). Please stay tuned for further news about GFPP efforts in particular cities, and be sure to join the Advocacy Brigade so we can alert you should we need support for the GFPP in your home city!
