RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
RESULTS
The results show that produce from the typical Eau Claire grocery store averages about 1,527 miles traveled per product, while Austin produce averages about 698 miles traveled per product, as you can see in the charts below. That is an 829 mile difference for each product, this proves there is some validity to the hypothesis, but cannot describe how much exactly because there are many factors that have not been considered. Such as harvesting methods, packaging, manufacturing and methods of transport. This suggests that the produce received in Wisconsin carries a higher environmental impact due to its high latitude and cooler climate and distance from major crop producing countries. It is suggested in Texas that the majority of the produce is coming from within the United States or from its neighboring country Mexico. Mexico is one of the world’s top crop producing countries, with a tropical climate and large amount of land they are able to produce large amounts of fruits and vegetables to export to the United States. The U.S. receives about 60% of the total agricultural exports of Mexico, while they only receive 12% of our agricultural exports. The climate of the U.S. states is more advantageous for growing crops such as corn, wheat, soybeans and cotton, this is another reason most the produce we consume is from elsewhere.
The results show that produce from the typical Eau Claire grocery store averages about 1,527 miles traveled per product, while Austin produce averages about 698 miles traveled per product, as you can see in the charts below. That is an 829 mile difference for each product, this proves there is some validity to the hypothesis, but cannot describe how much exactly because there are many factors that have not been considered. Such as harvesting methods, packaging, manufacturing and methods of transport. This suggests that the produce received in Wisconsin carries a higher environmental impact due to its high latitude and cooler climate and distance from major crop producing countries. It is suggested in Texas that the majority of the produce is coming from within the United States or from its neighboring country Mexico. Mexico is one of the world’s top crop producing countries, with a tropical climate and large amount of land they are able to produce large amounts of fruits and vegetables to export to the United States. The U.S. receives about 60% of the total agricultural exports of Mexico, while they only receive 12% of our agricultural exports. The climate of the U.S. states is more advantageous for growing crops such as corn, wheat, soybeans and cotton, this is another reason most the produce we consume is from elsewhere.
In both Texas and Wisconsin maps we can see that most products are coming from both the United States and Mexico, but in the Wisconsin map you can see Eau Claire is receiving produce from more countries that are farther away. In the Texas map it shows 24 products coming from Mexico and 26 from the U.S. with other countries only being responsible for one or two products each. This is due to Texas’s close proximity to these major crop producing countries.
CONCLUSION
This study has shown that the regional difference of grocery stores can attribute to the environmental impact caused by the transportation of produce. The farther a place is away from countries that have a conducive climate for growing fruits and vegetables year around, the more food miles are associated with that particular place. This intensive agriculture and mass distribution system is an unsustainable approach to feed our growing population. The focus needs to be brought back to sustaining communities with locally grown food. Austin seems to contain a culture that is interested in healthy and organic foods and this may be a reason we see the produce originating from more local sources. That can’t be determined from this study but it could be a contributing factor to the patterns we see. These modern day methods of monocropping and global distribution will physically not be able to continue because of the mistreatment of the land and water. The quality of the produce will continue to decline because the land that it is grown on is increasingly unusable. The future of our food system needs to be directed to a path that is able to grow food within the regions that it will be consumed, this ensures a producer accountability, low food miles, and fresher produce.
This study has shown that the regional difference of grocery stores can attribute to the environmental impact caused by the transportation of produce. The farther a place is away from countries that have a conducive climate for growing fruits and vegetables year around, the more food miles are associated with that particular place. This intensive agriculture and mass distribution system is an unsustainable approach to feed our growing population. The focus needs to be brought back to sustaining communities with locally grown food. Austin seems to contain a culture that is interested in healthy and organic foods and this may be a reason we see the produce originating from more local sources. That can’t be determined from this study but it could be a contributing factor to the patterns we see. These modern day methods of monocropping and global distribution will physically not be able to continue because of the mistreatment of the land and water. The quality of the produce will continue to decline because the land that it is grown on is increasingly unusable. The future of our food system needs to be directed to a path that is able to grow food within the regions that it will be consumed, this ensures a producer accountability, low food miles, and fresher produce.