Reducing Your Food Miles
Thanks to the global marketplace, consumers now have access to a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains regardless of location or season. But shipping foods across the country or even around the world creates an enormous amount of pollution and waste. Unfortunately, due to the industrialization of the farming industry, food is more likely to come from a distance than it is to come from one's nearby farms and markets.
The term, food miles refer to the distance that food must travel from where it is produced to where it is consumed. By reducing the food miles of the foods on your plate, you can significantly reduce the environmental impact caused by their production.
Opt for local, in-season foods, whenever possible. If you cannot find a local source for organic foods, purchase the conventional varieties to avoid the pollution and waste associated with transporting organics to your location. Check out Sustainable Table for a state-by-state list of seasonal produce availability.
Most produce travels roughly 1,500 miles between the farm where it was produced and your dinner plate. About 40 percent of fruit in the United States is imported from other countries and, even though broccoli is commonly grown within 20 miles of the average American's house, most broccoli travels an average 1,800 miles from where it is grown to the grocery store.
