Food Chain Workers Alliance Challenge

20 million people in the United States work in the food system, one-sixth of the nation’s workforce. While some pay livable wages, the majority of the jobs in the food system are low wage and have little or no benefits, as explained in the new report The Hands That Feed Us. Food workers suffer from dangerous and many times unsafe working conditions. In fact, food system workers face higher levels of food insecurity, or the inability to afford to eat, then the rest of the U.S. workforce. How can we as consumers help to promote better conditions for food workers and truly create a sustainable food system?

The Food Chain Workers Alliance is a coalition of worker-based organizations whose members plant, harvest, process, pack, transport, prepare, serve, and sell food, organizing to improve wages and working conditions for all workers along the food chain. The Alliance works together to build a more sustainable food system that respects workers’ rights, based on the principles of social, environmental and racial justice, in which everyone has access to healthy and affordable food.

Our challenge asks you as a consumer to think about creative ways to educate other consumers and engage them in advocating for better conditions for food system workers. The prize is $250 and you can use this money to implement your idea in partnership with the Food Chain Workers Alliance.

Submit an idea from June 6 to July 13 (noon Pacific Time). Our judges will select which applicants will pass to the voting round. From July 13 to July 27, we’ll open it up to public voting. Rally your colleagues and friends to get behind your effort and join the public in selecting the winner.

Connect with this challenge on Twitter at @GOODmkr and @Foodchainworker.

Submission tips:

• Include a photo or video that represents your idea. Photos should be in JPG, PNG, or GIF format, at least 570 × 345 pixels and no larger than 10MB. To include a video, use a YouTube URL.
• Write at least 3-5 sentences that explain how the award will enable you to implement your idea.
• If you have any questions, please review these FAQs or send us an email at maker@goodinc.com.

• This Challenge is open for submissions from June 6 to July 13 (noon Pacific Time).
• US-based individuals, groups and nonprofits are eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Submitted projects must be able to be activated with $250 within 6 months of receiving the prize, let us know how you’re going to put this money to work!
• Projects will be featured on this page and public voting will be open from July 13 to July 27 (noon Pacific Time).
• The project with the most votes will receive $250 to implement their idea.
• In order to vote, log in with your GOOD account. If you don’t have a GOOD account, it’s free to join. All you need is an email address or a Facebook account to register. You will be emailed a link that you need to click in order to validate your address.
• Read all the rules.