PHA’s Virtual Food Equity Summit 2022

On May 18th, 2022, Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) hosted its virtual Food Equity Summit, bringing together food and nutrition experts, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and thousands of guests to discuss how we can work together to ensure all Americans have affordable access to good food.

PHA works with nearly 500 partners, companies, food banks, and other organizations across the country to improve aspects of the food system at every level. This annual event has been a big part of this work — connecting tens of thousands of guests to innovative ideas and the most respected leaders in the food and nutrition space.

A highlight of this year’s Summit was the launch of PHA’s Defining Food Equity Paper, which aims to set a common definition of Food Equity, define the barriers to equitable access, and outline the pillars and solutions needed in order to support it in communities across the nation.

Download a copy of the Defining Food Equity Paper here, and learn more about the Food Equity movement.

Virtual Food Equity Summit Sessions

The event included the following sessions, all focused on the theme of equitable access to good food:

A Conversation with First Lady and PHA Honorary Chair, Michelle Obama

President and CEO of PHA, Nancy E. Roman sat down for an interview with former First Lady and PHA Honorary Chair, Michelle Obama, to talk about the Pass the Love campaign which has distributed over one million meals to families in need across the country.

What is Food Equity and Why it Matters

Dr. Sara Bleich, Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity in the Food and Nutrition Service at the USDA; Dr. Priya Fielding-Singh, Assistant Professor of Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Utah and Author of “How The Other Half Eats;” and Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University, discussed the three pillars of Food Equity and what can be done to ensure all families have access to good food in every zip code.

Good Food for All Documentary Debut

PHA debuted a documentary about its Good Food for All program and the impact it has had on families across the country. The program has distributed 18 million servings of produce to 20,000 families in 28 cities.

Healthy Hunger Relief

Pamela Irvine, President and CEO of Feeding Southwest Virginia, and Courtney Kennedy, Director of Nutrition at Good Shepherd Food Bank, discussed how food banks can work with PHA to uplift the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve through PHA’s Healthy Hunger Relief work.

Raising Adventurous Eaters

Dr. Kofi Essel, Director of the GW Culinary Medicine Program at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, spoke about PHA’s Veggies Early & Often campaign and how parents, medical professionals, educators, and leaders in the food industry can collaborate to raise a generation of veggie lovers.

Marketing Healthier Options

Andrew Archambault, Chief Customer Officer at Keurig Dr Pepper, and Gordon Reid, President of Stop & Shop, shared information about an innovative pilot program to market healthier options in under-resourced communities.

Join the Movement of People Committed to Food Equity

We need your help to achieve Food Equity. Sign our Pledge to Demand Food Equity Now!