A generation ago farmers would sell their fresh produce at the local market and households would seasonally adjust their meals to match their locally available food.

Today, however, the food system has a far bigger impact on the environment. Food is often grown, refrigerated and transported hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometres to centralised warehouses before being trucked to supermarkets. Even out of season food is flown around the world to ensure our needs are met. Consequently, Australian households are losing touch with seasonal food and have come to expect a wide range of food all year around.

Transporting food around the world creates massive amounts of carbon pollution. When food is flown, the aircraft emissions at high altitude are nearly three times more harmful than the carbon emissions from ground transport. Some reports indicate that freighting food by air creates 177 times more carbon emissions than transporting it by sea.

When it comes to these 'food miles', it's not just the environmental impact that's skyrocketing. As the cost of fuel goes up, so will the price of food.

This section of the FoodWise site tells you everything that you need to know about this issue. Food transportation is also not the only impact that food has on the environment, but it's something that all of us need to be aware of when making our purchasing decisions.

As Maggie Beer points out in this chapter, it's often a matter of common sense. There are some foods like chocolate that have to be transported great distances (and I for one would find it hard to give that up!).

However, there is a lot of food that is grown near to where you live. Where possible you should try to buy this food - especially when it's in season. Reducing your 'food miles' in this way means less environmental impact and more income for Australia's farmers. A win/win for our economy and the environment.

Jon Dee

Founder, Do Something!

Do Something has provided this information as a public service. If you use this information please credit FoodWise.com.au.