A foodshed is similar to a watershed. The latter describes the flow of water until it reaches your faucet. Every raindrop collects somewhere, combines with other sources of water, and is deflected by streams and other physical attributes until it reaches your drinking glass.
A foodshed is everything between where a food is produced and where it is consumed. It includes the land it grows on, the routes it travels, the markets it goes through, and the tables it ends up on.
Where a watershed is directed by physical attributes, your foodshed is mostly dictated by financial and economic factors. It’s these economic factors can dictate where your food comes from, and ultimately the quality of your food.
The modern US foodshed is global. One visit to your grocery store will prove the worldwide availability of food. You’ll see ingredients from all parts of the US, Mexico, Hawaii, South America, or Europe.
If you were to stick a pin in a world map noting the origin of each item you bought at the grocery store, you’d see the great distance most food has to travel. The average supermarket food item in the US travels 1500 miles before passing through the check out line! The greater the distance traveled, the larger and wider the foodshed.
If you’re concerned about food miles, then you must be seeking the freshest, highest quality ingredients to cook. Perishable items that are shipped must be picked before they are ripe or preserved in some way before their long trip to the store. Otherwise, they’d spoil on their way.
Eating from your foodshed used to be the only way to eat, but this has changed dramatically within the last 50-100 years. When the majority of people were farmers, or grew a percentage of their own food, it was easy to plot the origin. People ate the food that was in season, when it was available. Very few items came from far away.
Growing, cooking and eating food connected communities then. Now, food cultures in the US are determined by what you watch on TV, with a concentration on recipes rather than ingredients.
Luckily, the trend is turning back to the way is USED to be. Communities are being built around the local farmers market where food miles are few and food is vibrant.
This video shows the effect of a local farmers market on their community:
Usually, the least traveled food is at your local farmers market. However, you can shop at many grocers who stock locally grown foods. It’s up to you to ask the origin of the food and vote with your dollars. Grocery stores want to provide what SELLS so they can make a profit. When items from your foodshed are the best sellers, they will be the items provided by the store.
Here’s my challenge. Check your refrigerator and pantry cabinet. Which food item came from the furthest distance? What do you have in your kitchen right now that traveled the least? If you don’t know, it’s time to start asking.
Let’s see who has the largest and smallest foodshed by leaving your comment below:
I live in Washington state. My farthest products are from Mexico; my closest, about 30-feet, from my garden. My garden adds to my food supply from early March and into November. Most are grown in raised plots but we start all of our veggies from seed in our greenhouse. Ya can’t beat the taste of fresh!
Hey Ward!
I’ve been waiting for someone to mention their garden! That’s the smallest foodshed you can have, your own yard!
Furthest is pine nuts from China and it really pisses me off. I make fresh pesto about twice a month and get pine nuts from Fred Meyer (I’m in a rural area without much shopping choices). I complain to the cashier every time I buy them and usually just get laughed at. It’s really my fault I guess. I really need to do my homework and find a better source for many things.
I once saw my wife had purchased fresh garlic from China and I about tipped over.
Hey Dave!
Pine nuts are generally more expensive from other nuts because of the labor-intensive process of harvesting them. They’re almost as bad as cashews, which involve a lot of work to bring to the market. However, when you add the cost of flying some nuts from China, it should be no surprise they’re expensive.
Dear Chef Todd,
I am growing a Food4Wealth garden this year. This is not the typical southern garden. I am so excited & growing organic. No spraying with any pesticides or chemicals. I have two rows that are a little over 2 ft wide and 8 ft long. with a walk way in the middle and a “cage” built all around with chicken wire and the wire is even on the top. To keep out deer, squirrels, rabbits, and black birds out of my garden, and any dogs or cats roaming on our 2 1/2 acre property from somehwhere. We have planted Herbs:Basil, Chives, Oregano, Parsley, Mint, Sage, Thyme. Veggies: Yellow Corn,Carrots,Cucumbers,Green Beans,Green Lima Beans,Broccoli,Bell Peppers,Baking & Red Potatoes,3 types of Tomatoes,3 types of Lettuce,Spinach,Swish Chard,Squash,Cantelope,Watermelon,Yellow & Spring Onions & Garlic. All this is to have Purer Food for Better Health!!!
Hi Emily!
Your garden sounds like a great source of fresh food all summer long. It’s also a great source of saving money on food and shrinking your food shed to an absolute minimum.
I agree with you in wrapping the whole thing in chicken wire. Rabbits and deer will destroy your garden in one night. It’s amazing what deer will eat. They used to bypass my herbs and eat my wife’s roses instead. They have no discernible palate, they eat everything.
One year, they stripped my peach tree bare. Even the peaches that were 10 feet up the tree, I found hoof prints on the trunk. They must knock the tree to make the peaches fall. Tricky little devils.
It is a small family farm that raises their own goats and chickens, so the milk and cheese is frash and the eggs too. They sell at a local food co-op in town and you can also visit their farm for your items.
Furthest item is pasta from Italy; closest items are goat’s milk, goat cheese and eggs-10 miles.
10 miles, Wayne? That’s great.
I’m waiting for someone to comment about what they grow in their own yard.
Then, the foodshed is just a couple of yards.
Furthest item in my kitchen: A jar of Strawberry Jam from France. Although, I purchased it because I love French strawberries, and the ingredients are unadulterated and local to the processor. But, it’s technically outside my foodshed.
Closest item in my kitchen: Chicken and eggs – 50 miles. Beef – 65 miles. Lettuce and Broccoli – within 25 miles.