The Farmplate Blog

An interesting blog post from Derek Singleton at Software Advice provides a clear argument of why the U.S. might be headed for a more “European” food distribution system. 

In Europe, gas prices are significantly higher than in North America. Among other factors, that cost encourages a hub-like decentralized food distribution process, centered around cities. 

In the U.S., gas prices continue to rise, and coupled with spread of farmers’ markets and demand for fresh food, the sustainable food movement is bucking the prevailing economic indicators. Singleton gives a great example in Whole Foods Market, which has posted impressive gains in profitability in the past four years, despite a down economy. 

Whole Foods still engages in national distribution of course, but the company sources locally on a much more regular basis than most national grocers.

It’s fun to read the perspective of someone like Singleton, who takes such an analytical approach to assessing the situation. Typically, when someone (usually a politician) says the U.S. is turning into Europe, it’s meant to be a pejorative thing, if not downright scary. In this instance, converting our food system to a more European model could be just the kind of change we need.

Read on for more:

“According to a 2010 article in The New York Times, Americans consume 31 percent more processed foods than citizens of other nations. One reason for this is our food distribution networks. Our average food item travels roughly 5,000 miles before it’s consumed. Because of this, our foods are prepared and packaged to be shipped long distances.

Current trends suggest that the status quo of long-distance food distribution may be primed for disruption. Increased consumer demand for locally-grown organic foods, coupled with a renewed interest in living in urban cores and rising gas prices, collectively suggest that U.S. food distribution networks will soon need to evolve to support these and other shifting lifestyle and economic trends…”

Read more here >