Go easy on that droopy slice of tomato on your sandwich. It’s had a long trip. And, if your carrot sticks have lost their crunch, give ’em a break. They’ve traveled 1,500 miles to your lunch plate! Many foods we eat spend hundreds or thousands of miles traveling on boats, planes, trucks or trains before reaching us. Our food tends to be less tasty and less healthy when it travels long distances. What’s more, the vehicles that move it contribute to a warming planet.
Try some of these delicious ways to reduce food miles (the total distance food travels before it is sold).
- Eat local (local food is typically food that is produced with 100-250 miles from where you live.
- Shop at local farmers’ markets
- Plant veggies and herbs at home (container and backyard gardens, DIY mini aquaponic systems).
- Read my article, Farm to Dining Hall Table, in Muse magazine’s February 2020 issue to learn about food miles and directions for how to ‘Grow a Salad in 6 Weeks’
Susan Hunnicutt 