Power of Procurement Summit 2025: Shaping the Future of Good Food Purchasing
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EmailThrough panels and collaborative discussions, CRFS team members joined food systems leaders from across the county at the 2025 Power of Procurement Summit to shape the future of good food purchasing.
Pictured (from far left and clockwise around the table): May Tsupros of CRFS, Megan McManus of the Chef Ann Foundation, Lindsey Scalera of CRFS, Cheyenne Liberti of Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Amy Nelms of Center for Good Food Purchasing, Jahi Johnson-Chappell of CRFS, Christine Quane of Brave Ground LLC, Kara Black of Feeding America, Stephanie Dodge of Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Food Systems, and Julius Buzzard of Growing Hope. Photo Credit: Norvell's Photography
Values-based procurement describes how institutions can leverage their purchasing power in alignment with their goals and values, often to positively impact supply chains that bolster local and regional food systems. On October 8-10, 2025, the Center for Good Food Purchasing hosted their annual invitation-only gathering, the Power of Procurement Summit 2025, in Chicago, IL. Members of Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) joined over 250 changemakers who are shaping the international future of values-aligned food procurement. As participants and panelists at the Summit, CRFS colleagues celebrated successes, shared strategies, and built connections to strive for more intentional local and regional food procurement throughout the country.
Global Lessons for Building Collective Power through Food Procurement
Framed with a long view perspective, the opening plenary session, “The Power of Us: Global Lessons for Building Collective Power Through Food Procurement," incorporated learned wisdom from Indigenous food sovereignty and international movements. The following panelists explored how these examples have used procurement, participatory government, and food policy as tools for transformation: Pedro Charbel, Homeless Workers' Movement - MTST (Brazil); María Carrascosa García, Agronomic Engineer, Project Coordinator, Fundación Entretantos, Spanish Network of Municipalities for Agroecology; Vanessa Miller, Food & Agriculture Area Manager, Oneida Nation; and Dr. Cecilia Rocha, Professor Emerita, School of Nutrition, Member, Centre for Studies in Food Security, Toronto Metropolitan University. Dr. Jahi Johnson-Chappell, Director of CRFS and endowed W.K. Kellogg Professor, gave closing remarks to this discussion.
“I think the main theme that continued beyond that session was of inspiration from the work being done around the country and around the world,” Johnson-Chappell said. “There was a feeling that if others have built better ways, we can too in our various contexts. We are all part of a larger tradition of possibility and resilience, from ending the dictatorship in Brazil and Brazil’s recent removal from the hunger map through its variety of programs; to the Black Panthers’ pioneering of free school meals; to the many steps forward good food purchasing has seen across the US.”
Regional Coordination for Place Based Commitments
Creative and collaborative energy buzzed throughout the event. May Tsupros, Director of Farm to Institution Programs at CRFS, was a member of the Summit’s planning committee and moderated a panel discussion on “Regional Coordination for Place-Based Commitments.” To open this conversation, Tsupros welcomed panelists as the Chicago Bulls Theme song played: Grecia Marquez-Nieblas, Fullwell; Bill Green, Common Market Southeast; Mabel Shiu, Chicago Food Policy Action Council; Tania Taranovski, Farm to Institution New England; Liz Anichini, New Mexico Public Education Department; and Amy O'Rourke, Cook County Department of Public Health. These leaders described examples of institutional commitments from their region, including state-level policies that supported pathways for value chain coordination and institutional purchasing.
“Changes in policies showcase to constituents that leaders are committed to sustainable changes in our food system,” Tsupros said. “Further though, we need to request that these commitments center the voices of the workers, ensuring competitive wages, and ensure farmer and food transport practices that protect our environment: land, soil, water. When our legislative leaders write details like this into the policies, we know that real change can unfold because they are listening to the people on the ground doing the work.”
Connecting Values-Based Procurement Policy Strategies
In addition to panel presentations, the Summit hosted interactive discussions to bring together ideas from food systems leaders from across the country. Lindsey Scalera, Director of Policy and Leadership Education, Assistant Director of Policy at CRFS, participated in this discussion to brainstorm and reaffirm values-based procurement policy strategies. “The strategies discussed at the event represent how local efforts are connected to efforts at broader scales and could lead to more stable markets for farmers and food producers, embodying the values of the Michigan Good Food Charter,” Scalera said.
A majority of states have some sort of food systems plan; state and regional food systems plans offer a guiding framework for food systems leaders to advance a set of goals and action priorities to address challenges in the food system. For example, the Michigan Good Food Charter outlines six goals, six strategies, and 22 action recommendations to support accessible, equitable, equitable, fair, diverse, and healthy food systems. To strengthen local and regional food systems, CRFS coordinates a National Statewide and Regional Food Systems Plans Community of Practice and strives to increase knowledge and capacity through focusing on an equity approach.
Strengthening Regional Connections
To lead these powerful conversations into the future, the Power of Procurement summit organized sessions for participants to discuss solutions for place-based challenges. These regional breakout groups were arranged by regions to spark ideas for what it would look like to coordinate public food purchasers, supply chain partners, community-based organizations, and governments across state lines. Tsupros facilitated the sessions for the Michigan and Great Lakes region twice throughout the summit. Tsupros noted, “One of my favorite take-aways that our cohort came up with was moving to change language in our Michigan State Constitution to include 'right to healthy food' for all our citizens.”
Tsupros said that the Michigan and Great Lakes Cohort will continue to meet after the summit to keep momentum going.
“The space was incredibly inspiring — and the excitement for what we can do, if we intentionally coordinate with each other, was palpable,” Tsupros added. “I look forward to going back to Michigan with fresh ideas, and bringing in all of our partners, new and old, into action.”
About Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems
The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems advances regionally-rooted food systems through applied research, education, and outreach. We do this by uniting the knowledge and experience of diverse stakeholders with that of MSU faculty and staff. Our work fosters a thriving economy, equity, and sustainability for Michigan, the nation, and the planet by advancing systems that produce food that is healthy, green, fair, and affordable. Learn more: foodsystems.msu.edu
