| As more and more people are taking a hard look at | | | | discarded. This creates a vicious course that harms |
| the effects that pollution is having on our planet, new | | | | the environment. |
| terminology is emerging. | | | | Consumers need to be aware of where their food |
| The term sustainable development encompasses the | | | | originates. Packing will often tell what country |
| concept of using our resources wisely so that we | | | | produced the product you are planning to purchase. |
| can enjoy them, but they will also be available for | | | | Buying fruits and vegetables that are "in season" |
| future generations. | | | | often means that that they are locally produced and |
| Another term that has been showing up in the | | | | travel less miles to get to market. Choosing apples |
| worldwide lexicon is "food miles". Before the industrial | | | | from New York State is preferred over buying them |
| revolution, food was grown and consumed locally. | | | | from New Zealand. |
| What food wasn't grown at home was obtained at | | | | Buying locally is part of the key. It not only helps the |
| local farmers markets, or using the barter system. | | | | economy by supporting our local growers, it is better |
| As the world is becoming globalized, the ease in | | | | for the environment. The trend is to buy "organic" |
| which food can be transported is having a major | | | | but if that food comes from South America, the |
| impact on the environment. The transportation of | | | | benefit to the environment is minimized. |
| that food can use a tremendous amount of fossil | | | | The other benefit of purchasing locally is that the |
| fuel. "Food miles" is the total distance that food | | | | produce is fresher, so you are getting healthier food |
| goods are transported from the field or source of | | | | that contains fewer preservatives. Often the cost is |
| manufacture to the consumer. This term has become | | | | less because we are not paying for the cost of |
| an indicator of sustainability, and has sparked a | | | | transportation, packaging, advertising and all the |
| movement towards using foods produced and | | | | chemical additives. |
| consumed locally. | | | | If as a consumer you wish to lower your carbon |
| Recent studies are showing that the globalization | | | | footprint, your best option is to purchase most |
| within the food industry has resulted in more and | | | | products that have been produced within a thirty mile |
| more products being imported from foreign | | | | radius, choose products that are not damaging to the |
| companies. This has greatly increased the "food | | | | environment and purchase products from the areas |
| miles" a product travels, and substantially increases | | | | where they grow best. |
| the amount of pollution that is generated. | | | | During World Wars I and II, citizens were asked to |
| In an effort to supply consumers with fresh food, | | | | plant victory gardens. These gardens produced over |
| the use of the airplane to transport that food has | | | | one third of all the vegetables consumed in the |
| greatly increased. Since air transportation produces | | | | country. Maybe it's time to go back to the "good old |
| far greater greenhouse gasses than ships, this also | | | | days" and consider planting gardens to grow our own |
| has a negative effect on our environment. | | | | vegetables to help the environment. |
| Long distance transportation also requires more | | | | In time, as technology improves, buying from |
| packaging since consumers will not buy bruised foods. | | | | overseas will not hurt the environment. Many |
| Packaging made from cardboard, paper and plastics | | | | countries rely heavily on the exportation of food |
| use more of our natural resources such as trees and | | | | goods to other countries, so a shift to purchasing |
| fossil fuels. The increased packaging also requires that | | | | locally grown food could be devastating to these |
| more trees be cut down, destroying wildlife habitat. | | | | countries. |
| Then the packaging ends up in our landfills when it is | | | | |