Some Days are Earthier than Others

Here in the Pacific NW, the actual April 22 - with a near Mardi Gras like vibe to it, Earth Day is as earthy as you get. Guilt and celebration bound together like two strands of DNA - right down to people getting drunk and flashing each other their carbon footprints.

From land fill issues to energy consumption to processing - food plays a huge part in how we use our resources on this planet. All the energy that goes into feeding people and 40% of all food produced in the US is wasted. That’s right 4-0, over 1/3 of all food grown, processed and distributed is thrown out. Here the issue isn’t the fault of a giant faceless corporation.

On average 20% of all fresh produce is wasted by consumers. That doesn’t even account for what grocery stores are tossing out because customers won't buy blemished goods – this is at home, out of the shopping bag waste. If the argument that fruits and veg are expensive - our choices are adding to the expense of eating fresh. Some of this is inescapable: Right now in my fridge, I have some cilantro decomposing…it was sold in a bundle that was way too big, not only for a single fella, but was too much for a largish family who host a weekly taco night. Would I have paid 3/4 of the price of a bundle 1/2 the size? You bet ya. In an industry driven by total sales, a smaller bundle means selling less, albeit at a better margin. For a grower getting paid for the total amount of cilantro they deliver, a realistically sized portion doesn’t offer quite the same benefit; by selling half as much, they would make half as much.

What is avoidable - the salad greens I throw out. Americans average over 3 trips a week to the grocery store. I do not need to purchase 7 days worth of lettuce/lettuces/lettuci on my main shopping trip, I will be back in the store within 2 days. I misoverestimate my appetite for greens – eating 3 salads and opting for a burger and beer instead of salad #4. Some people, who shall remain nameless, seemingly buy lettuce on the assumption the purchase will lead to a healthier eating habits - as if they are going to eat better simply by purchasing greens. Every week old lettuce gets thrown out, only to be replaced by new lettuce – it is the produce equivalent of buying a lottery ticket – playing not to win, instead spending the $1 to think about what it would be like to be rich.

I don’t really feel bad about that last salad until I throw the wilted leaves out, then I feel wasteful. Feeling bad isn’t a great motivation, if I had an earth day wish, I’d like to get to the point where I am a little more aware when I am shopping – now who checks that Earth Day list to see who is resourceful and nice, is it really Al Gore?


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