Every time we eat, we make a choice that affects not just our health, but also our planet. The food system accounts for approximately 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions, uses 70% of freshwater resources, and is the primary driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss worldwide. But not all food is created equal when it comes to environmental impact.
At FormsKirns, we believe that informed choices lead to better outcomes – for our health, our communities, and our environment. In this post, we'll explore how different food choices affect the planet and why eating local, seasonal produce can make a significant difference.
Understanding Food Miles and Carbon Footprint
"Food miles" refers to the distance your food travels from where it's grown to where it's consumed. Generally speaking, the further food travels, the larger its carbon footprint due to transportation emissions. However, this is just one part of a complex picture.
A food's total environmental impact includes:
- Production methods: How the food was grown or raised (conventional vs. organic, industrial vs. regenerative, etc.)
- Processing and packaging: The resources required to turn raw ingredients into packaged products
- Transportation: How far and by what means the food traveled
- Storage: Energy used for refrigeration or freezing
- Waste: What happens to unused portions and packaging
Interestingly, production methods often matter more than transportation. For example, tomatoes grown in heated greenhouses in the UK during winter can have a higher carbon footprint than tomatoes grown in natural conditions in Spain and transported to the UK. This is because the energy required for artificial heating can exceed the emissions from transportation.
That said, when comparing similar production methods, local food typically has lower environmental impact simply because it travels less distance and requires less packaging and preservation.
The Power of Seasonal Eating
Nature has a rhythm, and eating in harmony with that rhythm offers numerous benefits:
- Reduced energy use: Seasonal produce can grow without artificial heating, lighting, or cooling.
- Less storage need: In-season produce doesn't require long-term storage or preservation.
- Better nutrition: Seasonal produce is typically harvested at peak ripeness, maximizing nutrient content.
- Superior taste: Fruits and vegetables harvested at their natural peak simply taste better.
When you subscribe to a FormsKirns box, you're automatically eating more seasonally. Our farmers grow crops when they naturally thrive in our climate. During winter months, this means more root vegetables, hardy greens, and storage crops, while summer brings an abundance of tomatoes, peppers, berries, and other warm-weather delights.
The Environmental Impact of Different Food Groups
While we specialize in fruits and vegetables at FormsKirns, we believe in holistic education about food systems. Here's a brief overview of how different food categories compare environmentally:
Animal Products
Generally speaking, animal products have the highest environmental footprint due to:
- Land use for grazing and growing feed crops
- Methane emissions (especially from ruminants like cattle)
- Water consumption
- Feed conversion inefficiency (it takes more resources to produce animal protein than plant protein)
However, there are significant differences within this category. Beef and lamb typically have much higher footprints than chicken or pork. And production methods matter enormously – regenerative grazing practices can actually sequester carbon and improve soil health, whereas industrial feedlot operations are highly resource-intensive.
Fruits and Vegetables
Plant foods generally have lower environmental footprints than animal products, but significant variations exist:
- Growing methods: Organic and regenerative practices typically use fewer synthetic inputs and build soil health, but may have lower yields.
- Water needs: Some crops (like almonds) require extensive irrigation, while others can thrive on rainfall alone.
- Growing conditions: Produce grown in artificial environments (heated greenhouses) has a higher footprint than field-grown crops in their natural season.
- Shelf life: Highly perishable items may generate more waste or require more energy for quick transportation and refrigeration.
Processed Foods
The more processing a food undergoes, the greater its environmental impact tends to be due to:
- Energy use in processing facilities
- Additional packaging materials
- Preservatives and additives (which have their own production footprints)
- Often longer and more complex supply chains
Why We Focus on Local, Seasonal Produce
At FormsKirns, our environmental approach centers on:
- Working with farmers within 100 miles of our distribution center to minimize transportation emissions
- Prioritizing regenerative and organic growing practices that build soil health and biodiversity
- Embracing seasonal availability rather than demanding out-of-season produce
- Minimizing packaging through our reusable box system and plastic-free packaging
- Reducing food waste through our just-in-time harvest and delivery model
This approach results in produce that has an estimated 60% lower carbon footprint compared to equivalent conventional supermarket produce.
Small Changes, Big Impact
We understand that completely overhauling your diet overnight isn't realistic for most people. Here are some manageable steps you can take to reduce the environmental footprint of your food choices:
- Start with one seasonal meal per week using local ingredients.
- Learn what grows naturally in your region during different seasons and build your meal planning around these foods.
- Reduce food waste by planning meals, properly storing produce, and creatively using leftovers (see our food waste reduction post for specific tips).
- If you eat animal products, consider reducing quantity and improving quality – less frequent consumption of better-sourced products often costs the same while significantly reducing environmental impact.
- Grow something yourself – even a windowsill herb garden connects you to your food system and eliminates packaging and transportation.
The Ripple Effect of Your Food Choices
Every time you choose local, seasonal produce, you're not just reducing your personal carbon footprint – you're also:
- Supporting farmers who are stewarding the land using sustainable practices
- Helping preserve agricultural biodiversity by creating demand for diverse crop varieties
- Strengthening local food security by keeping regional food systems viable
- Influencing others through example and conversation
- Sending market signals that consumers value environmentally responsible food
At FormsKirns, we're proud to be part of a growing movement reconnecting people with their food sources and making sustainable eating more accessible. By subscribing to our produce boxes, you're not just getting the freshest vegetables and fruits – you're participating in a food system that works in harmony with nature rather than against it.
We'd love to hear from you – what steps have you taken to make your diet more environmentally friendly? What challenges have you faced? Share your experiences in the comments below!
