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THE GOOD NEWS:
-Countries around the world such as Costa Rica and Switzerland are attempting complete sustainability and succeeding in a more eco-friendly system (USDA)
-There are around 500 million small, locally run farms worldwide (USDA)
-Sustainability is becoming extremely marketable and more valued by corporate companies. In a recent survey, 67% of those surveyed at corporate companies say that sustainability strategies are necessary to be marketable (Cohen, "Sustainability by the Numbers")
-68% of these organizations surveyed say they have increased their commitment to
sustainability in the last year, while in 2009 only 25% of companies had increased
commitment (Cohen, "Sustainability by the Numbers")
THE BAD NEWS:
-Sustainable, nutritious food can often be unaffordable as well as inaccessible - so families often turn to fast food. More than 23 million Americans live in an area of poverty with their grocery store over a mile away. (Facts About Sustainable Food)
-A typical carrot travels 1,838 to reach your table - wasting fuel that puts harmful toxins into the environment. (Facts About Sustainable Food)
-Austin is considered a very green community, but only recently put farmer's markets in poorer areas.
-The number of corporate grocery stores and chains is constantly growing at a rate much faster than the rate farmer's markets and sustainable farms grow at. Keeping up with the advertisement and cheap prices big corporations put out can be a huge challenge.
-Many are still misinformed about the huge benefits of eating locally and sustainably - when done right, eating at home can actually cost much less than eating at fast food restaurants. Unfortunately, many don't have this information yet.
-Countries around the world such as Costa Rica and Switzerland are attempting complete sustainability and succeeding in a more eco-friendly system (USDA)
-There are around 500 million small, locally run farms worldwide (USDA)
-Sustainability is becoming extremely marketable and more valued by corporate companies. In a recent survey, 67% of those surveyed at corporate companies say that sustainability strategies are necessary to be marketable (Cohen, "Sustainability by the Numbers")
-68% of these organizations surveyed say they have increased their commitment to
sustainability in the last year, while in 2009 only 25% of companies had increased
commitment (Cohen, "Sustainability by the Numbers")
THE BAD NEWS:
-Sustainable, nutritious food can often be unaffordable as well as inaccessible - so families often turn to fast food. More than 23 million Americans live in an area of poverty with their grocery store over a mile away. (Facts About Sustainable Food)
-A typical carrot travels 1,838 to reach your table - wasting fuel that puts harmful toxins into the environment. (Facts About Sustainable Food)
-Austin is considered a very green community, but only recently put farmer's markets in poorer areas.
-The number of corporate grocery stores and chains is constantly growing at a rate much faster than the rate farmer's markets and sustainable farms grow at. Keeping up with the advertisement and cheap prices big corporations put out can be a huge challenge.
-Many are still misinformed about the huge benefits of eating locally and sustainably - when done right, eating at home can actually cost much less than eating at fast food restaurants. Unfortunately, many don't have this information yet.
Citations:
Cohen, Steven. "Sustainability by the Numbers: The Growing Reality of the Green Economy." The Huffington Post.com. 19, April, 2015.
"Data and Statistics." United States Department of Agriculture.gov. 18, February, 2015. 20, April, 2015.
"Facts About Sustainable Food." National Wildlife Federation. 20, April, 2015.
Cohen, Steven. "Sustainability by the Numbers: The Growing Reality of the Green Economy." The Huffington Post.com. 19, April, 2015.
"Data and Statistics." United States Department of Agriculture.gov. 18, February, 2015. 20, April, 2015.
"Facts About Sustainable Food." National Wildlife Federation. 20, April, 2015.