"A 2008 study published in the academic journal, Environmental Science and Technology by a pair of environmental engineers at Carnegie Mellon University found that just 11% of greenhouse gas emissions related to food come from transportation. Final delivery to the retailer accounted for just 4%. On the other hand, 83% of emissions involved in your lunch today are directly attributable to the food's production."
Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2320323#ixzz0ZK86jrO9
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This basically means large producers may create less carbon during their production of certain food supplies or that specific locales may be more sustainable places for production. Therefore we shouldn't just count 'food miles' because some locally grown foods can be far more energy intensive. Instead 'locavores' should consider adopting a 'carbon diet'.
It is important not to fall victim to things that falsely label themselves as 'green' for financial purposes however buying local can be a very responsible choice if done correctly.
Things to consider when shopping:
-Eat Seasonally. Don't buy foods that are out of season, such as asparagus in the winter
-Reduce your meat intake, beef is an especially large GHG emitter
-Buy from producers who use green energy to produce foodstuffs
-Select foods in eco-friendly packaging, and properly recycle what you can
-Do not over consume and as a result create excessive food waste
-Avoid tomatoes produced using ethylene gas, usually hot house variety
-Minimize your consumption of easily perishable items that are air freighted in
-Purchase native berries and root plants in BC
-Select foods that are high in energy such as whole wheat or oatmeal products, blueberries, apples, yogurt, nuts and seeds
-Choose less processed foods
Check out more from Green Living Online and Circle of Responsibility
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