Real Food Challenge

The time has come to harness our power to create a food system that is just and sustainable for all.

Our Approach

We’ve defined Real Food with a set of standards encompassing the many distinct sectors that make up the food movement. Students lead the charge and organize their peers to demand that their campus commit to buying and serving more Real Food. By shifting towards more Real Foods, institutions create change in the food chain for all: from farmers to workers to eaters to the planet.
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What is Real Food?

In a world where pizza is considered a vegetable and buying organic doesn’t necessarily mean that the workers were paid a living wage, it’s important to clearly define “Real Food.” Broadly, Real Food truly nourishes everyone: producers, consumers, communities, and the earth.
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RFC Leaders

Students have often been at the forefront of social movements, and fighting for a better food system is no exception. RFC students are unapologetic, feisty, and dedicated to changing the lives of farmers, workers, and eaters by demanding Real Food on their campuses.
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What's New

This Is How It Works: 8 Ways Institutional Procurement is Building a Real Food Economy

Brand new farms and food businesses. More job opportunities. Small enterprises, eager to grow, finally scaling up and family farms going organic. A Real Food economy is here and growing -- and this growth is anchored by institutions of higher ed. That’s the picture that emerges from our new report.
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The future of real food is Uprooted & Rising

Ten years ago, the Real Food Challenge set out to harness the power of youth and universities to build a ...
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Nationwide campaign calls on Aramark, Compass Group, and Sodexo to reform unjust business practices, invest in Real Food

Diverse coalition launches campaign to transform business practices in the foodservice industry The Community Coalition for Real Meals launched a ...
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