Food miles refer to the distance food travels from where it is grown until it is purchased by consumers. For example, bananas travel about 900 miles while locally grown strawberries only travel 10-15 miles. Importing food over long distances uses more vehicle fuel and produces more pollution, making it worse for the environment. Reducing food miles by growing your own food, buying locally, and walking to shops can help lower pollution.

1. Food Miles

2. What are food miles?
Food miles are the distance food travels from
when it was first grown or raised to when it is
eventually bought.

3. For example:
Bananas travel about 900 miles from
where they are first grown and
harvested until when they are bought by
the consumer.
Usually, imported food is finally
bought by the supermarkets to sell to
the end purchaser.
This is a lengthy process.

4. Whereas…
… locally grown strawberries
only travel around 10 – 15
miles and are on the shelves
of the shop within 24 hours of
being picked.
Not only is it better for the
environment, if we buy locally grown
produce, it is also better for us health-
wise as it is much fresher.
Another advantage is that it is also
a lot cheaper, because there are
less fuel costs for travelling.

5. What’s the Problem?
The problem is that every food that is transported
uses vehicle fuel, meaning more pollution which is
bad for the environment.

6. The more food miles; the less fresh the
food is…
…the more
expensive it is…
…and the more harmful it is for the
environment as more carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide, and other harmful
gases are produced whilst the food is
travelling.
…the more likely it is to get
damaged…

7. How can we reduce them?
We can reduce food miles in many ways. Some are:
Grow your own food or buy locally. Eat according to the season. E.g.
apples in autumn and strawberries in
summer.
Walk to the shops because that doesn’t
produce any pollution.