Have you ever thought about how much water it takes to grow a pound of produce? Or to eat a quarter pound burger (634 gallons)? I couldn't imagine that it would be as much as it is. To feed a growing world population, experts say that water-use efficiency is imperative. A meat based diet requires 60% more water than a vegetarian diet. If you are a meat-eater, cutting down on meat consumption is a huge step towards lowering water use as it is becoming more difficult to get.

Are you wondering just how much water is required to produce certain foods?

Meats: water use includes water the animal drinks plus the water used to grow their food and to clean their waste.
chicken: 469
pork: 756
sausage: 1,382
beef: 1,857

Produce: includes rainwater and irrigation water per pound
eggplant: 25
potatoes: 31
beans: 43
corn: 109
avocados: 154
strawberries: 33
oranges: 55
grapes: 78
apples: 84
bananas: 103
cherries: 185
plums: 193
figs: 379

Cheese & animal products: Includes water used to raise the animals and water used in processing the product.
yogurt: 138
fresh cheese: 371
eggs: 400
processed cheese: 589

Are you surprised? I am. There is a surge in produce grown hydroponically which uses a fraction of the water to grow the same plants. Also irrigation systems are changing to a drip method instead of spraying water in the air or flooding fields – which uses way more of this precious resource. Knowledge is power and knowing what food products require more resources helps us make informed choices.

Green Team coordinator, Julie Peckham
Information from National Geographic April 2010 special issue: Water and Our Thirsty Planet