Great Green Idea: Green Eating: Watch Your Food Miles and Only Purchase Food in Season

Watch Your Food Miles and Only Purchase Food in Season

Have you ever thought about the distance your food travels before it ends up in the local supermarket from which you purchase it? Today, when fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products can be bought in any season of the year and from any grocery store many of us take them all for granted, without paying any attention to their carbon footprint.

The distance that food travels from the place where it is produced to our tables is known as food miles. It is often quite significant, especially if we are talking about fruits such as bananas or strawberries which can be grown only in certain regions. Many foods require transportation over long distances by lorry, ship, or airplane before they reach the supermarket. This in turn generates greenhouse gases which affect the environment and contribute to climate warming. But if the negative effects food miles have on the environment are not a strong enough incentive to make us consider this issue more carefully, then the financial aspects of it should be.

Food that is produced in a far away state or country and is shipped to our area is more expensive than that produced locally because transportation costs money. Also, another important thing to keep in mind is that food that comes from far away is not as fresh and tasty as that produced on a local farm.

People who live in cities should particularly be concerned about food miles because a large percent of the food they consume comes either from the countryside or from other nations. The few farms usually situated outside of cities cannot cope with the demand; what they produce is insignificant compared to the amount city dwellers consume.

Looking for food miles is not really a straightforward process for the average consumer. Not many manufacturers list the place of production on the labels of the things they sell, as regulations rarely force them to do so.

To minimize the greenhouse gas emission generated by the transportation process, and to eat fresher food, you should mostly buy products that have been produced locally. Supermarkets are beginning to label fruits and vegetables according to where they come for, and this comes in handy to recognize them.

Buying seasonal food is also indicated. Out of season fruits and vegetables almost always come from far away. If you're really fond of seasonal food make reserves and when possible use freezing for conservation. It will make you less dependent on imported products.

Farmer markets are excellent places to buy seasonal foods produced locally. There is at least one in any city. Also, growing your own vegetables or fruits can also be a solution, though it requires certain resources, patience, and dedication.

In the end, remember that because of the high consumption it is difficult to eat seasonal local food at all times even if you really want to - you won't always find it. But reducing the consumption of imported foods and becoming more dependent on local products is doable, and it has many benefits.