If you read my recent "About Me" quote, you may have observed the author and her book that I read recently. I don't necessarily recommend it, but it had some interesting information. For example:

95% of all fruits and vegetables are sold (and bought) in supermarkets (Walmart leading the way).

The average home dinner travels 1500 miles from source to plate. A tomato takes 2 weeks (no wonder they're picked green).

For every dollar spent on fruit (say an apple), only 18 cents goes to the farm ($0.82 to marketing, distribution, bigwigs, etc.).
For veggies, farms get 21 cents.

40% of all U.S. food produced goes uneaten (for a variety of reasons). Whatever happened to "Clean your plate--millions of Chinese are starving" we were told as kids?

Americans spend 42% of their food budget eating out (restaurants). Chips, coke, beer, candy (and other snacks) don't figure in. I bet the percentage is well over half!

Eating out costs nearly 5 times more than eating at home.

13% of a household income is spent on food.

Applebee's meals use processed (pre-packaged) food, not fresh. Disgusting to read this. (No "chefs" needed, just someone to assemble and nuke.) Glorified McDonalds.

Farm laborers and employees of the food industry are getting screwed, the former less than minimum wage (but not on paper). Management reaps profits (t'was ever thus).

Support your local farm markets. Buy fresh, naturally produced fruits and vegetables. Quit supporting the big chains. It's the right thing to do.