The Metropolitan Chicago Good Food Purchasing Initiative (GFPI), as part of the Chicago Food Policy Council, aims to transform the region’s food system by promoting values-based procurement across community institutions, focusing on fairness, health, and sustainability. By implementing the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP), GFPI is working with key institutions and agencies, such as Cook County hospitals, Chicago Public Schools, and Rush University Medical Center, to align their food purchasing practices with ethical standards that support local economies, environmental sustainability, and equitable labor practices. The initiative fosters collaboration among small and medium-sized food producers, providing them with the tools and opportunities needed to access institutional markets and build long-term relationships with buyers. Through this work, GFPI is addressing systemic inequities in the food value chain and creating a more resilient and just regional food system that empowers marginalized communities.