Wichita Named One of Six Good Food Cities Nationally, Pledging to Double Produce Consumption and Build a More Resilient Food System
WICHITA, KS [DECEMBER 9, 2025] – Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) announced that Wichita, Kansas, has joined the national Good Food Cities initiative. Wichita is one of six cities nationwide committed to transforming its local food landscape to ensure equitable access to nutritious food.
The city’s participation will be driven by a robust coalition of local partners led by the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute (WSU CEI), marking a new phase of collaboration focused on long-term systemic change.
About the Good Food Cities Initiative
Good Food Cities is PHA’s collective impact model with the bold vision to double produce consumption in 15 cities, including Wichita. The goal is to enhance and expand nutrition security by increasing the supply, access, education, and marketing of fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods.
PHA’s strategy involves working hand-in-hand with community leaders to implement evidence-based programs and policies, such as the signature Good Food at Home program, engaging the private sector to improve affordable access, and launching local awareness campaigns to drive demand for healthy options. Wichita joins a growing coalition that includes Indianapolis, Denver, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.
“For years, the WSU Community Engagement Institute has been dedicated to strengthening Wichita’s foundations through community-driven solutions,” said Joanna Sabally, Program Specialist at the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute. “The Good Food Cities initiative gives us the opportunity to unite the incredible work already happening here and treat food access not just as a charitable concern, but as a critical lever for public health and economic equity. This project matters because it unites neighbors, organizations, and leaders in working side by side toward equitable food solutions.”
Building on a Foundation of Success
The launch of Good Food Cities builds upon a history of successful collaboration between PHA and Wichita. PHA first engaged with the community during the 2021 rollout of its Good Food at Home program. This initial effort, which provided access to fresh fruits and vegetables to families across the city, reached 5,000 individuals through partnerships with key local organizations, including the Greater Wichita YMCA, the Health and Wellness Coalition of Wichita, and the Kansas Food Bank.
“We commend the collaboration between PHA and WSU CEI to strengthen access to healthy, affordable produce,” said Erika Debrick Kelly, Executive Director of Hunger Free Kansas. “In Sedgwick County, where food insecurity contributes to an estimated $80 million in excess healthcare costs, bold partnerships like this are smart, urgent investments in community health. At Hunger Free Kansas, we believe it takes an all-sector, all-hands-on-deck approach to solve hunger—and for our state to ultimately lead the nation in health. We’re excited to support this partnership and the local organizations and leaders involved.”
A Solution for a Resilient Future
This partnership comes at a time when creating a more resilient food system is paramount. Recent national events, such as the Federal Government shutdown, highlight the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by families who rely on federal nutrition assistance programs like SNAP and WIC. Solutions like the Good Food Cities program offer pathways that can ensure families have consistent access to healthy fruits and vegetables, regardless of political or economic instability.
“Partnership for a Healthier America has seen firsthand the dedication and passion of the Wichita community for ensuring their residents have access to the ingredients for a healthy life,” said Amy Slechta, Director of Good Food Programs at Partnership for a Healthier America. “We are incredibly grateful to partner with Wichita State University and the entire coalition to advance access to nutritious food for all. We believe this sustained, city-wide commitment will establish Wichita as a national leader in nutrition security.”
Wichita’s embrace of the Good Food Cities program will significantly help integrate and elevate several local efforts and interests already underway, including those laid out in their comprehensive 2020 Food System Master Plan. The coalition of local organizations formally convened in early December to continue planning and mapping out how this critical work will progress through 2026 and beyond, ensuring a strategic and lasting impact.
Partnership for a Healthier America’s Good Food Cities work is supported by Novo Nordisk.
###
About the Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute Wichita State University’s Community Engagement Institute is dedicated to improving the health of Kansans through leadership development, research and evaluation, organizational capacity building, community collaboration, and public health and behavioral health initiatives. The Institute’s skilled staff works directly with community coalitions, nonprofits, government entities, health and human services organizations, and support groups.
About Partnership for a Healthier America At Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), we are advancing equitable access to nutritious food for all in America to lead healthy lives. As a national nonprofit founded alongside Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign in 2010, PHA works with community organizations, corporations, foundations and governments to build healthier communities through nutritious food. Learn more about our work at ahealthieramerica.org.
PHA Media Contact: Contact: Jason Wilson, SVP Strategic Partnerships, Partnership for a Healthier America, jwilson@ahealthieramerica.org
Joanna Sabally, Program Administrator, Wichita State University Community Engagement Institute, joanna.sabally@wichita.edu