This isn't a still life from 17th-century Europe. It's fresh produce from four upscale markets in Manhattan. [Detail]
Eating locally and reducing carbon footprints may be in, but these fruits and vegetables made big trips to the Big Apple—in some cases covering nearly 9,000 miles. In fact, in the United States, produce imports have increased significantly since 1980.
PRODUCE MILEAGE - 223,875: The total distance traveled by all the food items combined is 223,875 miles. That's enough to travel around the Earth roughly nine times. - 3,731 miles: The average distance traveled for all of the items is 3,731 miles. - - A Moveable Feast
To see the full still life....
Down around my place we think locally and shop locally.
We get our produce from many of Cesar Chavez's minions.
Posted by: chasmatic at November 8, 2014 8:28 AMI wonder how many eco-fascists shop for and consume these goods...
Posted by: Flyover Pilgrim at November 8, 2014 10:39 AMIn New York City? Millions. Almost 100% of the Upper West Side for starters.
Posted by: vanderleun at November 8, 2014 12:35 PMPapayas in November. Yep, it's the miracle of modern transportation and international trade. All those wonderful fruits are available in the southern hemisphere during our winter months. Most of them can be grown year around in the zone between 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south latitude. A lot of our fresh produce in Washington State in winter comes from southern Mexico, Chile, and New Zealand.
When I was a child getting an orange for Christmas was a big deal. Now, it's not even a treat.
Of course, come the revolution to "0" C02 emissions, this is all going to change. :-(
Posted by: Jimmy J. at November 8, 2014 2:50 PMI know a couple. They're conspicuously socially conscious. I heard him say, "Oh, we would never shop at Walmart." About three months later, I said hi to him as I was walking out of, and he was walking into, Walmart.
See, these folks talk a lot about buying local and all that crap. The thing is, here in Minnesota, strawberries are about the only thing in that picture that could be considered local, and then for about two months out of the year. Oh, sure, we can grow tomatoes and dill and peppers. But mostly we don't. We grow corn and soybeans.
These fussypants folks will go right into the big chain supermarkets and buy cheap produce. Out of season. All the time.
Posted by: Gordon at November 8, 2014 3:46 PMLIEberalism 101:
"Do as I say, not as I do, or else."
Strawberry jam for me, but not for thee. Soylent green will be the new crop. It will be the localest thing, ever!
Posted by: Jewel at November 8, 2014 8:30 PMLike Jimmy J. I remember when buying local wasn't an option. An orange in winter was a real treat.
We've been phenomenally blessed by the market in the last half-century--food of all kinds in abundance and remarkably inexpensive, a blessing to all
Posted by: Estoy Listo at November 8, 2014 8:36 PMDown around my place we have local grocery stores and outside of town are acres of truck gardens. A main crop is the chile peppers but they grow all kindsa produce.
I figure if I can't get it locally I don't need it. The only department store other than local merchants is a WalMart. it is sixty miles to the next town and they have the same.
WalMart is like an astral power nexus. It attracts all the weirdos in the area.
I was out running errands, in the line at Walmart for meds. Behind me comes this guy, looked like he was on a Polack bowling team.
Mid-forties, wouldn't know matching colors if it bit him in the butt.
"Whassatcha got?" He asks, pointing to the cafe curtain rod I'm holding.
I spoke not a word, showed him.
"Oh" he sez, "thought it was one a them canes. My buddy has one with four feet".
"Yes, when we get older we lose equilibrium." I said (my mistake).
"Oh" he sez, "I lost my equilibrium when I had that aneurism, back in '97."
"You're lucky to be alive" sez I.
"I dunno, I'm waiting for them to come get me. Y'know, go up into space".
"I'm five foot ten." I said with finality, "you won't need any money up there."
He nodded sagely and I saw behind his eyes he'll be chewing on that for a while.
The art of conversation, one of my strong suits.
Posted by: chasmatic at November 9, 2014 6:02 PM
My brother suggested I might like this blog.
He was entirely right. This post actually made my day.
You cann't imagine just how much time I had spent for this info!
Thanks!
HOME