by Denis Wallez
July 31st, 2012 (August 22nd, 2012)
Below is a post backing-up my interpretation that "being mindful" of what one eats would lead to also paying attention to transportation costs… Strawberries in winter mean a lot of pollution (to heat green houses up + transport), vegetarian or not… You might think this is a ridiculous example; OK, do bananas grow locally where you live (at any time of the year)?
by Cindy Brown:
Among other facts listed here:
The bulk of food costs are tied to transportation, processing, and marketing—a full 84 percent. A very small portion goes to farm labor. And the sad reality is, many farm employers routinely cook the books to underpay workers, recording fewer hours than were worked in the field to give the illusion that workers earn minimum wage. When I picked garlic in California, the highest wage I earned was $3.40 an hour. This was entirely illegal—and entirely common. If wages went up for everyone—via a minimum wage hike—the USDA estimates that food prices would increase by less than one percent. Similarly, if the wages of farm workers alone increased by 40 percent, the average American family would see this as a $16 per year increase in their grocery costs.
#foodindustry #twtClick on link to continue:Top 10 All-American Food Myths: What You Don’t Know About Our Food Chain Will Shock You