FOR RELEASE: 4-19-02
HOW FAR HAS YOUR PRODUCE TRAVELED?

AMES, Iowa--Common produce items such as grapes, cauliflower, peas, broccoli, spinach and lettuce can travel an average of more than 2,000 miles before reaching Midwestern markets, according to an updated report from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Moreover, at least one-third of the asparagus, cucumbers, eggplant, squash and tomatoes shipped within the conventional U.S. food system comes from Mexico.

That's what Leopold Center marketing and food systems research program leader Rich Pirog and Iowa State University student Tim Van Pelt discovered when they dug deeper into data they collected for the "Food, Fuel and Freeways" report issued by the Leopold Center in June 2001.

Pirog and Van Pelt examined 1998 shipping records for 30 different fresh produce items arriving by truck at the Chicago terminal market from across the continental United States and Mexico. The figures, gathered by the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service until 1998, include type and origin of commodity that arrive monthly and yearly, and method of transportation.

"We chose the Chicago terminal market because of its proximity to Iowa," Pirog explained. "Although only an estimated 30 percent of our nation's produce volume is moved through the terminal market system, we feel that it gives us a good snapshot of where our produce comes from during the year."

From the data, Pirog and Van Pelt calculated the weighted average source distance for each of the produce items using a formula that represents both distance and weight of load traveled. Their figures include only the distance from where the produce was grown to the Chicago terminal; distances to retail outlets are in addition to these figures.

The result? Table grapes were the most well-traveled produce item studied, logging an average of 2,143 miles from vineyard to market. Only pumpkins and mushrooms traveled less than 500 miles to reach the Chicago market.

Their study also showed that cabbage, cucumbers, onions, sweet corn and tomatoes originated from 15 or more states, while green peas and table grapes only came from California. Mexico was a source of 21 of the 30 produce items investigated, with 43 percent of the squash arrivals originating from Mexico.

"According to a 1999 estimate, only 1.5 percent of the fresh produce sales in the United States are from farmers marketing directly to the consumer in enterprises such as farmers markets, roadside stands and U-pick operations," Pirog added. "Growth in these markets would surely reduce the average distance that produce travels, and provide more community-based sales opportunities for farmers."

The "Food, Fuel and Freeways" report is online at the Leopold Center's web site, http://www.leopold.iastate.edu. Or ask for a copy of the report at the Leopold Center office, (515) 294-3711, or email.

The Leopold Center, established by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act, supports the development of profitable farming systems that conserve natural resources.

Illustration, "How far do your fruit and vegetables travel?"

Table, estimated food miles for all 30 produce items