The Real Food Challenge is a new Meal Exchange initiative. The Real Food Challenge has a goal of having real food make up 20% of food on campus by 2020. The Real Food Challenge is based off of four pillars:

1. Community Based - These foods can be traced to nearby farms and businesses that are locally owned and operated. Sourcing these foods supports the local economy by keeping money in the community and builds community relations.

2. Socially Just - Individuals involved in food production, distribution, preparation — and other parts of the food system — work in safe and fair conditions; receive a living wage; are ensured the right to organize and the right to a grievance process; and have equal opportunity for employment. Socially-Just food builds community capacity and ensures and promotes socially-just practices in the food system.

3. Ecologically Sound - Farms, businesses, and other operations involved with food production practice environmental stewardship that conserves biodiversity, promotes ecosystem resilience and preserves natural resources,including energy, wildlife, water, air, and soil. Production practices should minimize outputs and use of toxic substances, direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, natural resource depletion, and environmental degradation.

4. Humane - Animals can express natural behaviour in a low-stress environment and are raised with no added hormones or unnecessary medication.

The Real Food Challenge has numerous other focuses as well such as food options with proper nutrition, food security, Indigenous sovereignty in food, and much more. With this petition, we want to tell the University of Windsor administration and food services that we want affordable and healthy food options that follow ethical guidelines of production, preperation and distribution.