People are rediscovering the benefits of buying local food. How your food is grown, stored, transported, processed and cooked can all influence how it affects climate and the environment. Transportation-related impacts are particularly important for imported foods. NRDC calculated the transportation impacts of importing fresh produce and wine widely consumed in California, directly comparing the climate and air quality emissions from importing these foods instead of growing and consuming them in California. Our analysis shows that -- all else being equal -- locally grown foods are a better choice.
Food miles: How far your food
travels has serious consequences
for your health and the climate
November 2007
In California, where agricultural commodities are
one of the top exports, it is ironic that so much
food is being imported from other states as well
as overseas.
Garlic
November 2007
The transportation-related
pollution from
importing Chinese garlic
includes 39 times more
particulate matter and
6 times more global
warming impact than
transporting garlic grown
in California.
Grapes
November 2007
In 2005, the transport
of grapes from Chile to
California using trucks
and cargo ships resulted
in the release of an
estimated 14.6 million
pounds of pollutants
that contributed to
global warming and
caused unhealthy air
quality in California.
Oranges
November 2007
The transportation-related
pollution from
importing Australian
navel oranges includes
44 times more
particulate matter and
6 times more global
warming impact than
transporting oranges
grown in California.
Rice
November 2007
The transportation-related
pollution from
importing Thai rice
includes 22 times more
particulate matter and
3 times more global
warming impact than
transporting rice grown
in California.
Tomatoes
November 2007
The transportation-related
pollution from
flying tomatoes from the
Netherlands includes
500 times more global
warming impact and 2
times more particulate
matter pollution than
transporting tomatoes
grown in California.
Wine
November 2007
The transportation-related
pollution from
importing wine from
France includes 29 times
more particulate matter
and 5 times more global
warming impact than
transporting wine from
California.
Methodology and Sources
Related NRDC Pages
Eat Local: Does your food travel more than you do?
last revised 11.16.07
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