Food Transportation: A Modern Miracle

Today, people get the luxury of eating food grown thousands of miles away from their homes. That’s because of modern-day food transportation. Without food transportation, you would be forced to eat foods that grow in your local community.

For example, you would not be able to get oranges or most fruits and vegetables year-round. This is especially true if your home is in an environment with cold months. In contrast, communities close to the equator might not get the same fall or hearty winter vegetables found in more northern environments.

Do You Know Your Food?

Believe it or not, but most food you purchase is grown 1000 miles away from your local grocery store. A large number of fruits and vegetables are shipped from islands, South America, and other countries close to the equator. Similarly, spices are often shipped from Asia, South America, and India.

In other words, you likely have no idea where your food comes from. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing in terms of the nutrition of the food. However, food transportation has a large carbon footprint since it requires so many resources to grow the food and transport it.

Is It Safe?

Just 100 years ago, it was unbelievable to some people to think of getting oranges in the winter, but today, it is normal. That’s because food transportation includes very strict sanitation to ensure the food stays fresh and healthy throughout the entire journey.

Because of these strict sanitation laws, it is entirely safe to eat food that has been transported. There are benefits of eating local foods, but it is incredibly safe to eat transported foods, nonetheless.

What About My Carbon Footprint?

As we mentioned above, eating food that has been transported from all around the globe leads to a pretty large carbon footprint. Sometimes, it is unavoidable to purchase foods with a relatively large carbon footprint. However, it is always a great idea to lessen your carbon footprint when able.

One easy way to lessen your food carbon footprint is to shop at a farmer’s market whenever one is available near you. Not only can this lessen your carbon footprint, but it can be a fun way to get exercise and stretch your legs.

Even if you can’t get out one day, that’s OK. Shopping from your local grocery store is entirely safe due to the strict food transportation laws and technology available today.