By the numbers: The carbon footprint of food

In our current system, food travels an average 1,500 miles from field to fork.

U.S. agriculture currently emits about 925 billion pounds of carbon dioxide each year from crop and livestock production.

Packaging is responsible for emitting 24,200 tons of greenhouse gases every year.

In 2000, the global food system produced 3,800 calories per U.S. citizen per day, up 800 calories since 1957.

Sources: Cool Foods Campaign (coolfoodscampaign.org); USDA Agriculture Fact Book (usda.gov/factbook/chapter2.htm).