In many regions, fresh produce is increasingly exported by air where it is out of season or cannot be grown. The advantages of this are that consumers can eat fresh fruit and vegetables year-round, and some nations heavily depend on exports. The disadvantages are that this practice puts the environment under tremendous strain and encourages harmful farming methods.
One of the major benefits of exported food is that people can be fed fresh produce because only certain crops can be grown in their countries and only during limited time. Therefore, customers can make up a lack of essential vitamins and nutrients. Furthermore, some countries need to have imported food to survival due to their harsh climates. The United Arab Emirates, for instance, is mostly desert and largely depends on importing in order to provide people the source of healthy production.
However, airplanes burn huge amounts of fuel leading to emissions of carbon which contribute to global warming. Moreover, the increasing demand of overseas markets promotes local producers to use hazardous chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides. This leads to degradation of biodiversity and puts many species under the risk of extinction. In Southern Europe, for example, local farmers apply many dangerous chemicals that pollute waterways and soil.
In conclusion, although exported food allows people to consume fresh fruit and vegetables all year compensating a deficit of crucial nutrients, and it may help some regions to survive, this practice is a primary cause of pollution and uses harmful farming methods which contaminate to water and soil in the world.