Sustainability in the Food Supply Think Before you Eat!

Aim: How can a more sustainable lifestyle help the planet? Do Now Aim: How can a more sustainable lifestyle help the planet? Randomly select a food from the mystery basket. Use the country of origin sticker at the starting point to calculate how far that food travels from that country or state to your plate here in Kent Washington.

QR Code to Miles Calculators International Domestic

Do you know where is your food coming from?

Four Elements of Sustainability Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5NiTN0chj0 Sustainable: Able to continue on forever. Examples Shipping Fuel Pesticides in the food supply Pollution & Deforestation Less local jobs and less local crop growth for food 4 Elements/”Care Instructions” Reduce use of fossil fuels Reduce dependence on synthetic chemicals Reduce destruction of nature Ensure we’re meeting everyone’s basic needs

So What… Why does my food footprint matter? Our current food system is unsustainable. In the future, the world as we know it will cease to exist due to the consequences of unsustainability. These include: Pollution & Climate Change Less Biodiversity Less Jobs in Local Areas Unsafe Foods Human & Animal Disease

Tracking Cheese MILES: 175 A cow is milked on a farm in Wisconsin. TOTAL MILES= The milk is driven from the farm by tanker truck to the processing facility in Sheboygan, WI for pasteurizing. MILES: 175 A cow is milked on a farm in Wisconsin. The milk is stored at the farm. At another facility in Iowa, the milk is dried into a powder for stability. MILES: 275 The milk powder is sent by plane to the cheese factory in California. MILES: 1,000 The cheese is made, packaged, and then sent via freight train to the warehouse in New Jersey. MILES: 3,000 4,928 miles The cheese is sent from the warehouse to the store in Great Neck via truck. MILES: 150 The consumer buys the cheese and takes it home in their car. MILES: 3 EAT!

How can I Reduce my Food footprint? Buy locally grown foods whenever possible (grown less than 100 miles away) Supports local farmers & economy Prevents pollution Grow your own food Walk to the store, don’t drive Compost packaging

Kent Farmers Markkets Farmers Markets Farms Carpentinos, Kent Kent Farmers Market Renton farmers Market Covington Farmers Market Farms Carpentinos, Kent Sweet Brair Farm Hell or High Water Farm and CSA Where to find lots of info on local farms, farmer’s markets and CSA’s http://www.localharvest.org/search.jsp?map=1&lat=47.383224&lon=-122.212975&scale=9&ty=0&zip=98030

Local CSA’s (community share agriculture) Wild Hare Organic Farm http://wildhare.csaware.com/store/ Oxbow Organic Farm and Education Center http://oxbow.csaware.com/store/

Local vs. Non-local Food Mileage 4,603 miles vs. 90 miles…. which would you choose?! Save 4,513 miles of pollution, transportation, and fuel use!

Commodity Food Chain Analysis Job Title Job Description Sources Dietician Evaluate the nutritive value of this food. Fooducate App Reporter Use the company’s website and other research to determine 3-5 steps that get this food from the farm in the country of origin to your table. Food Company’s Website and other Internet Sources Statistician Working with the recorder, calculate the mileage your food has traveled, the transportation involved, and the process that was involved in getting it to your table. Critic Evaluate the food overall. Is it sustainable? Suggest an alternative for this food that might be better in terms of sustainability. Editor Evaluates the food company’s website for evidence of concern for sustainability.

Food Choices

Research Sources: Fooducate App

Describe 2 ways a person can make more sustainable food choices. Do Now Aim: How can a more sustainable lifestyle help the planet? Describe 2 ways a person can make more sustainable food choices.