How Do You Like Them Apples?

Yesterday as I sat and listened in on Mike’s interview with Matthew Simmons, I picked up on something very interesting.

Apples.

‘Apples?’ you might be asking yourself. ‘Why was Matthew talking about apples?’

While speaking of the importance of conversation, Mr. Simmons noted the fact the apples in the United Kingdom come for New Zealand.

That’s almost halfway around the world, an incredible 11,000 miles away, just for apples. Just imagine the amount of fuel it takes to ship these apples either by sea or air.

So I got thinking. If UK apples trek such long distances what other foods are as world traveled as apples and how much fuel is used in shipping.

Well I did some research and found some shocking facts.

According to the UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs the distance food travels has significantly risen and is still rising

"Food miles", as a recent report puts it, has increased by 15% in the past decade.

Food transport now accounts for 25% of all the miles driven by tractor trailers on British roads and highways. That number has doubled since 1974.

What’s more is the average distance Britons now drive to shop for food each year is up over 20% in 10 years.

This remarkable increase has resulted in the further depletion of fossil fuels.

The fact is that there is 13% more people on the earth than there was ten years ago; roughly about 770 million more.

That means we’ll need 13% more food. And we’ll have to use 13% more fuel to ship food to all these people.

And it not going to stop.

It is estimated that by the year 2013 the world population will be over 7 billion. By then we’ll need more food and have to use more fuel to ship it.

Unfortunately it is enviable that the world will soon run out of oil.

In yesterday’s interview Mr. Simmons said that it is going to take a global effort to maximize our oil sustainability.

And shipping apples halfway across the planet is not helping.

– Luke Burgess