BRITS FAVOURITE VEG TRAVELS ASTONISHING 23,000 MILE DISTANCE TO GET TO YOUR PLATE
- Fresh research unveils the shocking truth about how far our favourite foods travel, with baskets containing the top ten most popular vegetables racking up a whopping 23,322 miles
- Trendy avocado crowned the worst offender, traveling up to 6,263 miles from Peru to supermarket shelves
- An eye-opening three quarters of the nation confess to never checking where their food comes from
- UK and Irish farmers and growers come together to urge Brits to start shopping local, with 4 out of 10 everyday vegetables available all year-round
With our favourite foods now readily available at the press of a button, it can be easy to forget that many of the items we enjoy today may not have always been so easy to come by.
Even now, it’s likely that whatever is in your shopping basket has traveled a long way to get to you.
Research today unearths Britain’s reliance on imported food and vegetables, with most items travelling further than ever before.
The report shines a light on the nation’s 10 most popular vegetables, with international produce travelling up to a staggering 23,000 miles before it hits supermarket shelves – leaving the questioned unanswered to how fresh our food really is.
Topping the charts as the worst offender was the Avocado, traveling up to 6.263 miles from Peru, followed by cucumber (3428, Israel to UK) and onion (2608, Egypt to UK).
All of those ‘food miles’ traveled, and hours spent in transit inevitably affect the quality of food, not just in terms of taste, but nutritional composition, too.
With many unaware on just how far our food has traveled, an eye-opening three quarters of respondents confessed to having never checked the label to see where our food comes from.
Furthermore, nine in ten had “no clue” when well-known vegetables are in season, according to the poll.
Commissioned by The Mushroom Bureau, a partnership between local farmers and growers, the report highlights how sourcing vegetables that are in season and locally sourced can not only be better for the environment, but your health too.
And despite 80 per cent of our food being imported, four out of the 10 top vegetables voted by Brits are in season at home, all year round. The veg miles better for us includes potatoes, carrots, lettuce and mushrooms.
The humble mushroom grows abundantly in the UK and Ireland, as the indigenous environment and climate provide ideal growing conditions. They thrive in this cool, damp, low lit northern corner of Europe and are available in UK and Irish supermarkets 52 weeks of the year.
The Mushroom Bureau reports that 75% of mushrooms available in supermarkets are from the UK and Ireland and have traveled no longer than 12 hours and fewer than 400 miles.
However, a not inconsiderable 25% of the market is sourced from further afield, clocking up a significant 36 hours + on the road and traveling in excess of 1,275 miles (Poland – UK). This equates to more than three times the distance when compared to their locally produced counterparts.
This means that these mushrooms could inherently be less fresh and have a significantly higher carbon footprint.
In response, The Mushroom Bureau has released the Seasonal Vegetable League Table, which illustrates that understanding seasonality, and how far food travels can make eating freshly grown, locally sourced vegetables achievable.
With plant-based consumption continuing to rise and over 60% of shoppers3 actively looking to eat more vegetable-based meals on a weekly basis, the Seasonal Vegetable League Table will help people consume more consciously.
A spokesperson from the Mushroom Bureau commented: “Understanding seasonal eating can help when buying the freshest, most nutritious vegetables, a little closer to home. The Seasonal Vegetable League Table brings to life just where our vegetables come from, when out of season and helps people support local farmers who produce high quality veg right on your doorstep. Swap your Sunday morning smashed avocado for some delicious mushrooms and not only support local businesses but play a part in reducing your carbon footprint by choosing lower food mile options.”
The see more at mushroom miles website : www.mushroommiles.com
BRITAIN’S TOP 10 VEGETABLES: HOW FAR DO THEY TRAVEL?
- MUSHROOM
AVAILABLE 365 DAYS A YEAR IN THE UK, TRAVELS LESS THAN 400 MILES
IMPORTED: TRAVELS 1,275 MILES FROM POLAND - UK
- POTATO
AVAILABLE 365 DAYS A YEAR IN THE UK, TRAVELS LESS THAN 400 MILES
IMPORTED: TRAVELS 2,230 MILES FROM CYPRUS - UK
- CARROT
AVAILABLE 365 DAYS A YEAR IN THE UK, TRAVELS LESS THAN 400 MILES
IMPORTED: TRAVELS 858 MILES FROM FRANCE - UK
- LETTUCE
AVAILABLE 365 DAYS A YEAR IN THE UK, TRAVELS LESS THAN 400 MILES
IMPORTED: TRAVELS 1,616 MILES FROM PORTUGAL - UK
- BROCOLLI
IMPORTED: TRAVELS 1,412 MILES FROM SPAIN - UK
- PEPPER
IMPORTED: TRAVELS 2,220 MILES FROM MOROCCO - UK
- ONION
IMPORTED: TRAVELS 1,412 MILES FROM SPAIN - UK
- CUCUMBER
IMPORTED: TRAVELS 3,428 MILES FROM ISRAEL - UK
- TOMATO
IMPORTED: TRAVELS 1,412 MILES FROM SPAIN – UK
- AVOCADO
IMPORTED: TRAVELS 6,263 MILES FROM PERU - UK
TOTAL IMPORTED MILES = 23,322
