Today, food travels thousands of miles from the farm to the consumer. Why is this? Is it a positive or a negative development?

Nowadays, it is much easier and more convenient for consumers to purchase various kinds of

food

, including some that do not belong to local

areas

.

This

trend depends on the development of the

food

travel industry. In

this

essay, I will discuss the reason for the improvement and its effects. The main reason is that it is an industry where there exist lucrative profits for

food

companies. Based on the idea that an item is much more expensive in a region where it is rare than in one where it is common, those dealers cheaply purchase

food

in

areas

where they are harvesting and

then

sell them in urban

areas

at a higher price, making huge money. Admittedly,

this

successful transaction is closely associated with the increase of consumers’ disposable income and

thus

they have the ability to widen their choices and afford some expensive exotic

food

. Obviously,

this

trend generates many benefits: boosting economic growth and improving individuals’ living standards.

However

,

this

leads to huge energy consumption and severe environmental pollution, since the transport vehicles,

such

as lorries and aeroplanes, need to use fuels and at the same time emit exhausted fumes.

Besides

, due to the stiff competition among farmers in imported and exported

areas

, the former is suffering and is even likely to lose their way of making a living.

This

is not beneficial to economically balanced development. Personally, I am

also

concerned about

this

economic model, mainly

as a result

of the associated environmental problems and unbalanced boost. I think the media should encourage people to buy local

food

rather than imported one to reduce carbon footprint and governments should support local development of various

food

products to satisfy citizens’ needs. (283)