Research by a University student uncovered new findings about the effectiveness of local food markets.
Fourth-year Engineering student Lauren Doucette is working with Ben Cohen, assistant professor of science, technology and society, to complete her senior thesis about the energy used in farmers market systems and its implications for society.
Doucette explained there is a debate surrounding the effectiveness of farmers markets in terms of energy consumption.
Some researchers feel in terms of energy use, it "is more efficient to ship large quantities of food across the country ... than to have a hundred local farmers come to one place and back," she said.
In her research, Doucette said she has found a significant portion of apples sold in New York are grown in California despite the fact that apples are grown in New York. Though this system may be necessary in some months, energy can be saved by using New York-grown apples in the months they are in season.
"It just doesn't make any sense," she said.
Doucette said she analyzed the amount of energy consumed at the Charlottesville City Market that operates every Saturday morning from 7 until noon, April through October. The market gave her a list of 40 vendors who participate on a weekly basis and sell only food, Doucette said, and using this information, she calculated how far the drivers must travel to transport the food products from their homes to the market each week.
Doucette said she also looked at the amount of energy used in the appliances within the market each day.
Cohen said the energy used to maintain the Charlottesville City Market for one day is comparable to the amount one household consumes in a year.
Despite the fact that farmers markets do not use much energy, Doucette said, some changes can be made to facilitate more effective energy consumption. Changing the hours of operation to be more conducive to a college student's lifestyle or staying open for longer hours could make energy use more effective by producing a greater profit, Doucette said, adding that she feels the Charlottesville market can cut back on transportation energy by finding a more convenient location.
Both Cohen and Doucette said disproving common beliefs that grocery stores are more energy-efficient can promote other benefits of consuming locally produced food.
"Local food advocates will talk about the advantages of freshness," Cohen said, also citing the possibility that there are fewer preservatives in local food products.
Doucette said she still feels the conservation of energy is of utmost importance.
"Environmentally, every little bit helps," she said.
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