The ACRE Collective: Advancing Agriculture, Community, Resilience & Equity through Values-Based Procurement recently launched in Georgia. The ACRE Collective centers on garnering food purchasing commitments from Atlanta-area anchor institutions, while shifting procurement to producers that share these institutions’ values.
Advancing Agriculture, Community, Resilience & Equity through values-based procurement
Schools, hospitals, corporations, and other community institutions can affect positive social change through intentional procurement practices. By incorporating food purchasing standards that align with core values, institutions can influence public health outcomes, boost regional economies, mitigate climate change, and improve racial equity via their food purchasing decisions.
What does The ACRE Collective do?
Builds market demand.
• Via diverse programs and experience-informed strategies, we build demand for values-based food procurement from Atlanta area institutions like public schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and community organizations.
Supports farmers.
• We provide land access, technical assistance, and capacity building for farmers, particularly
farmers of color, interested in selling to wholesale markets to meet the growing demand from Atlanta-based institutions.
Distributes food.
• We aggregate food from local and sustainable family farms and distribute the food directly to institutional customers.
Meet the Collective
The Georgia ACRE Collective is a collaboration between The Common Market Southeast, Health Care Without Harm, Georgia Organics, The Conservation Fund’s Working Farms Fund, the Turner Environmental Law Clinic at Emory University, and Alliance for a Healthier Generation. This initiative is made possible with the support of The Rockefeller Foundation.
In the news
- Blog: Introducing The Georgia ACRE Collective: Advancing Agriculture, Community, Resilience & Equity through Values-Based Procurement
- Blog: What are Forward Commitments?
- Blog: Bridging the Gap: Georgia's Farm-to-School Cafeteria Pilot Nurtures Local Farmers and Nourishes Students
- In the news: Marietta gets creative with school meals via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Get in touch
We are eager to partner with Atlanta area institutions, farmers throughout the Southeast, and community partners to improve our regional food and farm systems. For more information, contact The Georgia ACRE Collective Project Manager, Emily Hennessee at emily@thecommonmarket.org.