Can You Be an Environmentalist and Indulge in Tropical Foods?

So you go to the farmers' market every week. You buy exclusively organic, and you're a vegetarian. But there's still a dirty little secret that can be found in the depths of your pantry and atop your counter: tropical foods. Tropical foods can travel quite a distance to get to your table (unless you live in the tropics!). That means a hefty carbon footprint.

My calculations are based on the premise that the average American would need to reduce their carbon footprint from the current average of 20 tons per year to 4 tons per year just to be in line with the rest of the world. Experts say that 3 tons is the level needed for us to begin to reverse global climate change. So by dividing the individual carbon used for each item by 3 tons we come up with the percentage that your favorite tropical foods use based on your 3 ton goal allotment. After all staying the same will do nothing to reverse global climate change, drastic reductions must be made. Some tropical foods travel farther than others and hence have a larger impact on the planet. Know the facts before you indulge so that you can make an informed decision.

1. Bananas

We eat them every day, and their carbon footprint is huge. This fruit originated in Asia but is now raised in the tropics across the Eastern and Western hemispheres. Brazil is the leading banana producer, followed by Uganda, India, and the Philippines. Latin American countries supply more than 90 percent of the bananas eaten in North America.

Take into account that getting a single banana to your table uses about 8 pounds of carbon for a four ounce serving or .13 % of your year's allowance, according to Eat Low Carbon Diet. If you eat a banana every day for a year that would equal nearly 49% of your goal average. In the event that you can't fight off your banana craving, try buying an organic variety. Then you can at least ensure that your bananas weren't treated with tons of chemicals and pesticides, which can destroy the stunning tropical eco-systems from which they come. If you eat one every other day, a day or two or week, or sparingly you an see how much you can drop your carbon footprint, just by changing your banana habits!

Zoran Kolundzija/istockphoto

2. Mangoes

Mangoes are my favorite fruit. I absolutely love the taste. It's no doubt, however, that the mango is an import. Mangoes are grown throughout the tropics in the Caribbean, Africa, South-East Asia, Australia, and India, where the history of the fruit goes back over 6,000 years. The demand for mangoes is growing and continues to encourage mango farmers to plant trees on barren hillsides, which contributes to environmental restoration and conservation efforts. In fact, mango groves can establish their own ecosystem on previously denuded or wasted land. The organic Keitt mango is the only widely available California-grown organic mango. However, just like the banana, mangoes have a huge carbon footprint at about 8 pounds of CO2 emissions or .13% for a 4 ounce serving when they are shipped far distances. Again, if you eat the average far-shipped mango every day for a year that would equal nearly 49% of your goal average.

Brazil2/iStockphoto

3. Coffee

It's a staple in so many peoples' diets. I have tried time and time again to give it up, and for the most part I have. Nevertheless, I still swear that I work more efficiently under its influence. It's a common struggle throughout the country.

If you are going to chase the coffee dragon, try to choose a greener blend for your cup. The carbon footprint of your morning coffee truly depends on the choices that you make at the counter. So always make an effort to figure out where your cup o' joe comes from.

In general, the production of 2,200 pounds of green (organic, fair trade) coffee can cause between 1,980 and 3,080 pounds of CO2 emissions. That means that every pound of coffee produces between 0.9 and 1.4 pounds of CO2 emissions and each pound of green coffee that you buy can equal up to .023% of your year's allowance. There are about 32 cups of coffee in a pound of coffee. Drinking just one cup of coffee per day adds up to about .27% of your yearly allowance, but hey, that's no banana!

Start simply by making sure that your coffee is organic and not treated with chemicals and pesticides. These chemicals pollute our ground water and eco-systems and harm the people growing it. Shade grown coffee preserves habitats for migratory birds on coffee farms and lets beans mature more slowly. That creates richer flavors. Refer to Planet Green's guide to coffee and tea for more great information on the subject. Also, check out this map of major coffee producers.

ranplett/istockphoto

4. Tea

The Camellia sinensis plant (which produces black, green, and white teas) comes from countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. Some types of tea are also produced here in the United States. In fact, one of the largest domestic tea producers is right down the road from me at Charleston Tea Plantation. On average, loose tea has about 20g CO2 per cup or about .43 pounds per cup. That's .0071% of your year's allowance. If you had just one cup of tea per day that would add up to about 2.6% of your yearly allowance.

Knape/istockphoto

Consider Yerba Mate

I drink yerba mate all the time. It wakes you up like coffee without any jittery side effects. It's a bit difficult to determine yerba mate's carbon footprint. Guayaki is my favorite mate because it's a quality product with minimal impact. The company offsets over 55 tons of its corporate CO2 footprint. Guayaki also partners with indigenous communities in South America to source the ingredients for its herbal drinks. In addition, purchasing Guayaki products helps drive forest restoration efforts.

5. Nuts

If you're a vegetarian or a vegan, you probably get a majority of your protein from nuts. If you love cashews, for instance, you'll notice that the organic variety in the bins at Whole Foods is nearly $11 per pound. The steep price is a result of some hefty travel. Forteleza, Brazil, ships a majority of the cashews consumed around the world. While many almonds are grown in California, only 1 percent of the organic almonds sold in the US are grown here in the states. Germany is the largest market for almonds, followed by Japan. Other major markets include the Netherlands, France, United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Spain. Peanuts, on the other hand, are widely grown in the US, as you may remember from the recent peanut butter contamination disaster that played out in the national news. Domestic peanut crops are generally found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. On average mixed nuts have a carbon footprint equal to that of tea at .43 pounds of CO2 emissions or .0071% for a four ounce serving. Again, if you had four ounces of typical mixed nuts per day that would add up to about 2.6% of your yearly allowance.

Denis Pepin/istockphoto

The Bottom Line About Tropical Foods

Tropical fruits, including bananas and mangoes, don't help anyone's effort to stay on a low carbon diet. The best idea is to give them up or cut way back, unless you live in a place or are visiting a place where they grow locally. Wherever you live, there are local delicious fruits that just don't have the carbon footprint of tropical fruits. We shouldn't take for granted that just because we always have (in our lifetimes) enjoyed bananas doesn't mean it's our birthright or sustainable. With regards to coffee and tea, try to find a local producer. It's often possible, even if it just takes a little more work. If you don't have the choice, consider passing on your daily jolt or cutting way back. But always purchase organic and fair trade varieties of coffee and tea. I wouldn't feel so bad about indulging in nuts because beef has 239 times as much of an impact.

More on Eating Locally:
Local Food : Local Food
How to Go Green: Eating
Enjoy Local, Farm-Fresh Foods All Year Round