City departments spend over $100,000 per year on food for meetings, parties, and events.  With over 25,000 employees and countless visitors and partners in a strong agricultural region, the City of Philadelphia recognizes the responsibility and opportunity to increase support for a healthy and sustainable food system with these purchases.  

The first step is identifying good business partners who can help make that happen.

Do you know any businesses that cater for meetings and events that are committed to healthy and sustainably-sourced food, local ownership, and fair business practices?  If so, they may be eligible to be listed in the 2017 Philadelphia Good Food Caterer Guide!

Please share the survey with your favorite restaurants or caterers- responses are due by June 13th. The FPAC Good Food Procurement Subcommittee will review and verify survey responses, and businesses demonstrating at least two ‘good food’ values will be included in the Guide.

What are the good food values?

Healthy

The menu offers a variety of healthy options including water or no-calorie beverages; fruit and vegetable appetizers, sides or salads prepared healthily; whole grain side dishes; entrees that are grilled, roasted, baked, or poached; vegetarian-based dishes; and low-sodium or heart-healthy offerings.

Sustainably-Sourced

The business is proactively working in at least three of the five sustainability areas: animal welfare (including being vegan or vegetarian), organic ingredients, fair trade, local sourcing, and other green activities.

Fair

The business embodies fair labor practices for its own business and its suppliers, reflected in the fact that it has no labor violations, sources from a third-party certified farm, and engages in business worker certifications or best practices.

Locally Owned

The business has a valid commercial activity license with the City of Philadelphia and meets the definition of a local business entity.

Good Food Caterer Guide

In fall 2014, the Good Food Procurement Subcommittee conducted outreach to City departments regarding their small purchase orders.  Analysis showed that many departments submit small-scale catering orders for meetings and parties. This helped the subcommittee identify a potential project in developing a healthy and local food catering guide to distribute to City departments– the Philadelphia Good Food Caterer Guide.  The guide was promoted among more than 25,000 City employees to encourage catering purchases that support a just food system.

Click here to learn more about Good Food Catering.

If you have any questions about this survey or the Good Food Procurement Initiative, please contact fpac@phila.gov.