Listen to the podcast.

Shipping Food and Water

AMERICANS LIKE THE CONVENIENCE OF BOTTLED WATER AND THE LUXURY OF EATING FRESH FRUIT EVEN WHEN IT’S NOT IN SEASON.  BUT THESE COMFORTS COME WITH A COST, AS YOU’LL HEAR ON THIS ENVIRONMINUTE.

ACCORDING TO BRIAN HALWEIL OF THE WORLDWATCH INTITUTE, AN ENVIRONMENTAL THINK-TANK, THE AVERAGE FOOD ITEM IN THE U-S TRAVELS ABOUT FIFTEEN-HUNDRED MILES FROM FARM TO PLATE – AND THAT GOBBLES UP A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OIL.  YET IT’S NOT THE ONLY REASON HE SUGGESTS EATING LOCALLY-PRODUCED FOOD.

HALWEIL: THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE CLOSER YOU ARE TO WHERE YOUR FOOD IS RAISED, THE MORE CONTROL YOU HAVE OVER HOW IT’S RAISED, OVER HOW YOUR LANDSCAPE IS USED, AND ULTIMATELY OVER THE QUALITY OF THAT FOOD.

SO STOP BY A FARMER’S MARKET OR ASK YOUR GROCER IF HE CARRIES LOCAL PRODUCTS.  YOU’LL LIKELY BE SURPRISED BY THE DIVERSE AND TASTY FOODS YOU DISCOVER.

To learn more, read the article in The Age.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org