The term food miles refers to the distance that food travels before it gets to your table. It is used in calculating the carbon footprint of not only what we eat, but also where it originates. For instance, an apple grown in Yakima, Washington, and sold in New York City travels roughly 2,700 food miles.

The majority of food available at most stores travels a vast number of food miles, which leads to often-unnecessary carbon costs. Buying local produce can help reduce these costs. Remember, however, that food miles are unrelated to the other production costs involved in bringing food to the table, which include manufacturing and packaging methods, water usage, and other factors. Also, many fruits and vegetables are not available locally. Stay aware of what’s in season at your markets and try to buy local when possible, but keep in mind that food miles are only a part of the larger equation of your footprint.