The United States has lost more than 67% of its farms since 1920, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Fewer than one million Americans now claim farming as a primary occupation; there are more prisoners in the US than there are farms. The trend toward eradication of the family farm continues today. If individuals and families do not make a personal commitment to buy from local farmers, I am afraid the trend will only accelerate.
According to WorldWatch Institute, in the United States, food typically travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles from farm to plate, as much as 25 percent farther than in 1980. The latest information I can find from the Department of Agriculture, from 1969, puts the number at a still remarkable 1,300 miles.
Only about 10% of the fossil fuel energy used in the world's food system is used in production; the other 90% goes into packaging, transportation, and marketing. (Geoff Tansey and Tony Worsley, 1995) If you buy from local producers, the energy used in packing, transportation, and marketing will be considerably less than if you buy products produced thousands of miles away.
I encourage readers to visit FoodRoutes.org by clicking to learn more helping farmers and preserving our local food supplies by buying locally.
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