Here is a surprising fact: of all trucks, 1 in 3 is used to transport food. Transport represents almost a quarter of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions and is the main cause of air pollution in cities, according to the European Commission.
Buying and eating more local produce could be an important step towards reducing transport carbon emissions.
Food must be transported to the store or marketplace in most cases everywhere in the world. This is done by truck, boat, and plane. In fact food is usually transported several times before reaching the end buyer.
Therefore eating local produce at home and when dining out can have a major impact on the overall ‘food’print of the world.
In addition to trying to purchase more of your own food locally, consider suggesting local sourcing wherever you or your family members are eating out, such as restaurants, schools, and your office cafe.
The more we ask, the more we see ‘locally sourced’ on menus and in grocery stores.
Source: Voedingscentrum (Dutch) Food | Sustainability at Harvard (US)