How many miles does your food travel?

The following information is just a snapshot of food miles and imports of food to Canada. It is an eye opener to learn that many of the foods we believe we can and do produce locally are actually are more often than not imported! The trucks that bring these foods to our grocery shelves are a major source of carbon emissions. Every time you purchase local food, you are helping save the environment.

Eggs * Food Miles Information based on imports to BC Source: Lifecycles Project Society

On average imported eggs travel 5373 km. Buying local eggs saves 1142.8g or 1.1 times its weight in greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2007 Ontario imported a total of $34,129,534 of eggs.** In 2007 BC imported $541,014 eggs. ($324,624 Oregon  and from $208,516 Washington  **Trade Data Info: **Strategis.

Juices and Soft Cider  *

On average juice imported to BC travels 4724km. Every kilogram of local juice consumed saves 868.84 g or 86.9 percent of its weight in greenhouse gas emissions.(**Source: Lifecycles Project Society based on imports to BC.)

Blackberries and Raspberries

Living in Lower Mainland BC where Blackberries grow even in back alleys and are seen as noxious weeds, one assumes Blackberries in stores are straight from nature. Not, so. According to Strategis, BC, alone, imports $6,366,344 blackberries from Washington, another $2 million from New York, and a million from California, and Missouri. According to Lifecycles, blackberries travel an average of 1576 km from 33 states and countries. Using local blackberries saves 295.21 g or 29.5 percent of its weight in greenhouse gas emissions.

Fresh Strawberries

Canada imported $234,860,229 of fresh strawberries. With most of them coming from the US and Mexico being the second largest supplier at $8,546,427. Trade Data Info: **Strategis. 

Where's the Beef? *

Canada imports $560,000 of beef. For every kilogram of beef that you get locally saves 1585.76 g or 1.6 times its weight in greenhouse gas emissions. Beef imports travel an average of 10,937 km. Trade Data Info: **Strategis.

Cows Milk

Canada imports $12,024,526 of cows milk mainly from the US with the Netherlands being the second largest supplier at $779,920. Trade Data Info: **Strategis.

Where's the Chicken? *

Chicken imports travel on average 3053 km. Buying local chicken saves 790.44 g or 79 percent of its weight in greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Strategis BC imports $2 million dollars of chicken from Washington, with Arkansas being the second most common location for chicken imports, at $570,984. Ontario imports a whopping $231,151,175 worth of chicken!

Salmon

Canada imports $41,272,812 of fresh salmon. With approximately half of it coming from Maine and Alaska. Trade Data Info: **Strategis.

Bread Basket - Baked Goods *

Every kilogram of local baked goods that you buy instead of imports,  saves 652.3 g or 65.2 percent of its weight in greenhouse gas emissions. (*Source: Lifecycles Project Society based on imports to BC)
Where does BC import baked goods from?

• United States (U.S.) $84,751,779
• China $4,579,806
• Japan $4,493,081
• Korea, South $2,724,631
• Germany $2,081,313
• Taiwan (Taipei) $2,018,063