Does local food have a smaller carbon footprint than non-local food?
t\There are many important reasons to purchase local food and produce in particular. From a strict CO2e standpoint, for most Americans, buying local in not the most important factor in lowering your carbon impact. The types of food you choose to eat such as meat vs. dairy vs. vegetables and the amount of food you waste will probably influence your carbon impact more. There isn’t enough scientific research to precisely quantify the differences between local and non-local food because of individual variables such as the number of trips customers take to the farmer’s market, the type of truck farmers use to deliver their produce, and the distance farmers are traveling to market. Many local beef ranches aren’t near slaughterhouses and have to transport their “local” beef long distances. Q: Does seasonal food generate less carbon emissions than eating out of season. A: Eating seasonally is a great rule of thumb for eating low carbon. For example, hothouse tomatoes grown locally in winter ma
