Tuesday, October 21, 2008
When most people think about saving the environment, they think about recycling, driving their car less or, for the true activist, making their Facebook carbon neutral with some slew of fancy applications.
At the grocery store, these people do their part to cut down on petroleum use by bringing their own reusable bag, often printed with some sort of “green” slogan, despite rarely actually being green in color.
But when it comes to fuel use, what kind of bag you use is less important than what you’re putting in it.
When you bite into a crisp Washington apple, that apple is covered in more than just wax to give it that beautiful, glossy sheen — it’s dripping in oil all the way back to its state of origin.
That’s because that apple has had to be shipped across the country — in a refrigerated truck, no less — just so it can take up space in grocery stores where other, gas-saving local apples could be.
An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but if it’s not local, it’s definitely not shrinking your carbon footprint.
As the United States approaches winter, when it’s more difficult to grow and harvest food, the environmental cost of produce goes way up as we start enjoying “fresh” fruits from places like Chile.
National and international transport has gotten more efficient, which means it’s easier than ever to import specialty food items and out-of-season produce from across the globe. In addition, fuel used for international freight traveling by air or sea is tax-exempt, which also cut costs. So although transport may be cheap, the environmental price is high.
Fortunately, people like Will Allen, former pro basketball player and now the CEO of Growing Power and recent recipient of a MacArthur Foundation genius grant, are stepping up to the challenge.
To address the lack of local produce in urban areas, Allen has developed a system of vertical indoor farming, which saves space in areas where land is at a premium. This practically eliminates the environmental costs of transportation by growing food right in the neighborhoods that will consume it.
Allen’s urban farm, located in the center of Milwaukee, Wis., uses a unique three-tiered system of plant and fish farming, which saves space, water and huge amounts of fuel. It also cuts carbon emissions. This system is what Allen hopes in the future will allow him to build “vertical farm skyscrapers” in other cities.
As global trade becomes easier and faster, food needs to stay local and slower.
Within Lawrence, organizations like the ECM and the campus garden grow some of the produce to sustain their projects. In addition, several community gardens as well as the local farmers market provide the community with opportunities to grow or buy local produce.
Although most of us aren’t being handed $500,000 no-strings-attached grants, we can still help by buying locally grown and produced foods. You may have saved some petroleum with your reusable shopping bag, but if it’s full of imported produce, it’s just as delusional as emblazoning a blue bag with the phrase “I’m green.”
— McConnell is a Dallas junior in English.
Food Revolution
From the farmers to the restaurant to the consumer, learn how local ...
Group to hand out free reusable bags
The KU Alternative Energy Society is giving away bright red reusable bags ...
McConnell: Pristine produce raises concerns
Vegetables without signs of rot may hide darker secrets.
Locavores big on food, short on fact
The advantages of local produce may be an illusion.
KU students get hands dirty
Student farm teaches about agriculture, while also offering real products.
Try these tips for an eco-friendly ‘green ...
Giving environmentally friendly gifts, such as a birdhouse or adopting a pet ...
Lawrence residents find benefits in local food
The Lawrence Farmers’ Market has become a popular shopping option for local ...
Gluten-free bakery grows by demand
Ancient Grains Bakery, located beneath The Burger Stand, offers unique products for ...
Grocery stores offer incentives to stop using ...
Local stores urge customers to use reusable bags that are friendly to ...
From the farm to your plate
‘Food miles,’ pesticides and water affect how ‘green’ your food is.
Researchers, students to develop cleaner fuel
In the future, campus buses could be powered by leftovers from the ...
Candidates discuss positions on environmental issues
The Kansan spoke with local State Senate and State House candidates, asking ...
Petterson: Coal power given unnecessary attention
Other alternatives to growing energy needs prove more plausible.
Organic Foods: The meaning behind the label
The meaning behind the label.
Students go green to save green
Local gardening organizations help students grow their own produce.
Greening it
How to throw an Earth Day party
English: How I finally transitioned to reusable ...
Student group gives back to local farms
A campus group spends their weekends helping local farmers.
Kenny: Subsidies hurt Kansas farms, environment
The financial assistance causes unnecessary waste, among other things.
Former student spent month purchasing local produce
Living life as a locavore meant only buying food within a 100-mile ...
Film sheds light on farming industry
“Food, Inc.,” showing at the Kansas Union tonight, encourages people to buy ...
Cohen: Now it’s much easier being green
Facebook groups, hybrid cars offer new ways to be environmentally friendly.
Geologists awarded $11.5 million to test CO2 ...
The Kansas Geological Survey received funding for a large-scale experiment in storing ...
Green it!: Little changes for big change
Change your shopping routine
KU Dining Services supports local foods
University’s effort to save money, support sustainability includes rooftop garden and local ...
McConnell: Kansans entitled to know what’s floating ...
People should know if their milk contains bovine growth hormone.
Farm still facing possible foreclosure
Iwig Family Dairy awaits government loan guarantee before it can sell shares ...
Greening it
Your guide to greener living
Students revitalize campus with a garden
Student group, E.A.R.T.H., plants vegetables behind the University Relations building for donation ...
Global warming threatens future beer production
“Save the Ales,” an event sponsored by Greenpeace, promoted environmentally friendly legislation ...
Blog: Green my guy
Are you really getting what you paid for in the grocery store?
The real cost of bottled water
An analysis of the economic and environmental costs of bottled water.
McConnell: How corn infiltrated the entire food ...
Brinker: Politics means idea of community needs ...
Environmental efforts are paying off.
McConnell: Consuming weapons of mass construction
Green My Guy: Green Vacations
Travel can be environmentally friendly.
Spring brings increase in local and organic ...
Find out what produce to buy and what to avoid when eating ...
Parched future of the plains
A warming climate is adversely affecting animals native to Kansas and the ...
Students help farmers market thrive
University and local farms benefit from each other
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
McConnell: What’s greener than reusable bags
I always forget to bring re-usable bags.
Is that bad?
McConnell: What’s greener than reusable bags
This may be true for apples (you'll have to analyze the breakdown,) but it's not necessarily true that all food grown locally is greener.
A particularly interesting situation where this is NOT true is beef and the UK. The majority of the English get their beef imported from New Zealand and thus the food is transferred thousands of miles on an oil guzzling journey across the world's oceans.
As it turns out, though, growing beef for production in the UK consumes more resources than it does to raise it in New Zealand and ship it due to the climate and ecological diffferences between the two countries.
I don't see why this would be an issue for apples since I have seen apple trees around here, but it's food for thought.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID