Good Eats: The Greater Philadelphia Food Economy, and Good Food’s Potential to Drive Growth, Improve Health, and Expand Opportunity

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, also known as Get Healthy Philly, engaged the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia to conduct a broad analysis of the Greater Philadelphia food economy. This analysis investigates regionally-based healthy and good food opportunities and examines the potential for good food production to meet the needs of regional anchor institutions, expanding upon the unique subject-matter expertise within Get Healthy Philly and the Economy League. Get Healthy Philly’s Good Food, Healthy Hospitals (GFHH) initiative, an innovative program to improve health through changes to hospital food procurement, as well as its work with City departments to improve healthfulness of the food they purchase, serve, and sell, has brought good food to individuals across the region. Similarly, the Economy League’s efforts to expand regional anchor procurement through its Philadelphia Anchors for Growth and Equity (PAGE) initiative has helped keep regional dollars circulating in the regional economy. This research partnership realizes the organizations’ shared priorities of fostering good food-related commerce and capitalizing on its potential to improve health, drive growth, and expand opportunity in the region.