Homegrown

Government entities play a significant role in shaping food systems through their purchasing decisions. By adopting state or local procurement preferences — also known as geographic preferences — these departments and programs can strengthen local food systems and improve nutrition security. 

Homegrown: Implementing State & Local Preferences for Food Procurement is a practical resource for helping California policymakers and government officials design and implement geographic food procurement preferences in partnership with businesses, organizations, and community groups.   

The guide positions procurement as a powerful tool for advancing nutrition security by ensuring consistent access to foods that support well-being and prevent disease. It highlights how public institutions can help ensure access to healthy foods, address sociodemographic disparities in diet-related health outcomes, and achieve healthcare cost savings.  It also explains how leveraging government purchasing power can strengthen local economies by supporting jobs, generating tax revenue, and building resilience in the food supply chain. 

To learn more about food procurement through examples from California and Illinois, read our case studies.