While I’m extremely happy and thrilled that we’ve managed to move away from an oil based heating system to a heat pump, not all of life’s environmentally conscious choices are so obvious or so dramatic. One example was yesterday at the grocery store.
I wanted to get some fresh fruit. Lately I’ve been on a bit of a kick with green grapes. They’re nice and sour and having grown up on crab-apples, I really like that. But alas, the grapes weren’t any good so moved on to the apples. I love Granny Smith apples for much the same reason. Green and sour just seems to do it for me. As I approached them, I noticed they were looking a little past their prime and I happened to glance at the sign where it said product of South Africa. Now I have nothing against buying things from South Africa, but fresh fruit just seems like a bad idea.
So I looked over and saw a great looking batch of apples that were a product of Canada. I decided to buy a few and I have to say that they’re delicious. I know Canadian apples are good, there are some great ones that come from the Annapolis Valley. Unfortunately I don’t often see Granny Smith apples that are a product of Canada. But I felt good making a conscious choice to buy a product that was not only produced in my country (a good thing for our food supply) but also had most likely generated a smaller carbon footprint during its travels. Now there’s no guarantee that the Canadian apples carried a smaller carbon footprint, but I think that if I was a betting man, that’s where I’d put my money.
The point of all of this is to say that even the small choices can have an impact on sustainability, carbon footprints, food supplies and more. There’s nothing “wrong” with buying things that have been grown, manufactured or otherwise built in other countries. It is important though to be aware of “local” (and in Canada, we use that term loosely) alternatives.
David Ellis // Jun 18, 2008 at 10:07 am
Makes sense to me. These local products usually cost less too. Consider that when you’re purchasing wines – those Australian or European wines must sacrifice on quality in order to recoup the fuel cost of getting to your neighborhood store.
Jack // Jun 18, 2008 at 11:07 pm
There’s this funny story I got from work.. I was packaging some frozen salmon for delivery to a restaurant, and I noticed that it came from the Pacific coast.. somewhere between British Columbia and Alaska.
So this fish, in relation to my hometown is somewhat from my neck of the woods. But it turns out that the fish is first shipped to China, processed (glazed) then shipped back to towns like mine on the west coast for sale.
I guess that’s 21st century economics for you…
Ling // Jun 19, 2008 at 4:56 am
I read an article sometime back which said that every bite eaten by someone in Seattle has to travel an average distance of 1500 miles. I’m sure its as bad in Canada – Maybe not as bad, but still bad enough. Buying local produce is something which you should follow as a rule, to reduce global warming and your own carbon footprint.
BC // Jun 20, 2008 at 11:34 am
Absolutely, local produce is not used enough, and the freshest most tastiest food will always be freshly picked or produced from local farms and such.
pallavi // Jun 23, 2008 at 1:24 am
Yes, good observation. Taking small steps will help in long run. Too bad, people now a days are too greedy and want everything.
Bluetooth GPS // Jul 1, 2008 at 5:29 am
This one is a pretty impresive post indeed! These simple yet effective steps can save our planet earth from further harm.
design snob // Jul 2, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Buying fruit made locally makes such a difference in helping out both the local economy and the planet.
Data Entry Services // Jul 8, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I would really like to live green and buy local. It’s tough to do though. We live a very artificial, over complicated existence.
Thanks for the thoughts.
Monavie // Jul 23, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Fresh fruit from across the ocean…eh, I’d be skeptical too. I try to buy from my local famers market whenever I get the chance. They always seem to have the freshest and I like to know that I’m helping out where I come from.