The term ‘food miles’ refers to the distance food travels from the location where it is grown to the location where it is consumed, or in other words, the distance food travels from farm to plate. Recent studies have shown that this distance has been steadily increasing over the last fifty years. Studies estimate that processed food in the United States travels over 1,300 miles, and fresh produce travels over 1,500 miles, before being consumed. This publication addresses how food miles are calculated, investigates how food miles affect producers and consumers, and evaluates methods for curbing the energy intensiveness of our food transportation system.
Publications
Food Miles: Background and Marketing
Publication Name
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Publication
Links
Author
Holly Hill
Publisher
Fayetteville, AR: ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
Page Numbers
12
Publication Date
January 01, 2008
Publication Type
Reports and Guides
State
National
Keywords
Local / Regional Food Systems