Foodprint

There are so many things to consider when it comes to the impact we, as individuals, have on the environment. Transportation is one consideration. The additions we make to landfills is another. What about the food we eat? Is this something we should be taking into consideration? The Foodprint movement is saying that we do.

A Foodprint is,  ”our food system’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change through the production, processing, packaging, shipping, storage and disposal of food,” according to the Foodprint USA website.   In a study done by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, it was found that “globally one-third of all GHG emissions comes from agriculture and land use changes, and that approximately 12% of the total GHG emissions per U.S. household result from growing, packing, preparing and shipping food nationwide,” the website also reports.

Somehow, statistics bring validity and reality to facts that I’ve pushed to the back of my mind. A couple years ago I read a report, Livestock’s Long Shadow, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, about the impact that animal agriculture has on climate change and air pollution.  The information was a bit overwhelming but the ideas stuck with me. But, it’s still easy to ignore something though when it’s not staring you in the face everyday.

How do we determine our Foodprint? Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer yet. But through out the country, many local governments are on the push to get “green food resolutions” put into place. The resolutions are still pretty vague and non-binding but at the core the goal is to make fresh local food accessible to all.  They are encouraging local governments to establish climate friendly food policies and encourage urban farms and farmers market. The resolutions will also encourage public awareness campaigns about the health and environmental impact of our food choices.

I’m not sure where this will lead but both Chicago and New York City are in the process of reviewing resolutions. A big push is coming from campaigns by the Farm Sanctuary, a farm-animal protection group. According to Meredith Turner, spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary, Signal Mountain, a small town in Tennessee, is the first town to approve a green food resolution. Awareness never hurts, that’s all I can say.

Check out the Foodprint NYC here.

 

What’s In Season Now?

After a weekend like the one we just had in Portland, dark, rainy and windy, it’s hard to imagine that any fruit or vegetable could be in season in this area. To realize all the benefits from eating fresh fruits and vegetables buying locally grown foods is the way to go. The shorter the time between harvest and eating, the more nutrients you get. Knowing what’s in season in your area is a good place to start. So, what is available now in dreary Oregon?

Here is a list of what to look for. (If your store doesn’t label where the produce is grown, ask someone who works there. It’s good to have a local produce ally!)

Apples
Pears
Cabbage
Kale
Broccoli
Some salad greens
Squash
Brussel sprouts
Carrots
Potatoes
Kiwi berries (see photo courtesy of Hurst’s Berry Farm)
Hazelnuts (they count right?)

If you haven’t tried kiwi berries, please do. They are small, fuzz-free and delicious. Just pop it in your mouth, skin and all. They taste just like a kiwi, minus the hairy layer.

Please don’t shy away from squash. They are very forgiving and work well with both savory and sweet flavors. I like butternut and delicata. Try cutting a butternut squash in half, digging out the seeds and strings and stuffing the center with something tasty. I like diced apples, oats, toasted almonds, cinnamon and agave. Bake the stuffed squash until soft. Or if you prefer savory flavors, try brown rice, onion, garlic, mushrooms and Field Roast sausage. Yum! Another added bonus is they look great piled in a bowl while they wait to become dinner!

Also, if you’re looking ahead to the next growing season and don’t see where or when you’ll fit in a garden. Consider joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm. Now is the time to reserve your spot. By joining a CSA, you invest in the initial costs of a farm and someone else maintains it. Your reward, you get to share in the bounty through out the growing season. Here is an example in the Portland area.

San Francisco Composting Law

In San Francisco it is now illegal to throw your food waste in the garbage. The ordinance that went into effect on October 21, 2009, requires that all residential and commercial building owners separate food waste from their landfill bound waste bins. Those who don’t will face up to a $500 fine.

 

What will San Francisco be doing with all that food waste? It will be transported to Organix Annex and turned into compost. The compost will then be sold to area farms and vineyards.

 

I was recently in San Francisco and one thing that stuck with me was the lack of green space available to residents. There were very few opportunities for urban gardening within the city. At least in comparison to Portland, where I live.

 

This ordinance, I imagine, is bringing composting to people who would normally not have the space, the means or the purpose for compost. Composting in the city can attract unwanted wildlife and the average kitchen doesn’t usually generate the correct balance of ingredients needed to create good compost.

 

San Francisco isn’t the first city to put a composting ordinance into place. But, it is the first to require both residential and commercial building owners to comply and the first to be enforcing it with fines.