Known as the ‘King of Vegetables’ in India, or the ‘crazy apple’ in Renaissance Italy, the eggplant can be found in food from around the world. From moussaka, to ratatouille, to brinjal bhaji, this vegetable is nutrient-dense, and high in antioxidants. Yet, much less is shared about the environmental impact, and especially the carbon emissions of eggplants. So we had to ask: What is the carbon footprint of eggplants?

Apricots are a booming American industry, with more than 40,000 tons produced each year. They also happen to be a delicious treat, popular in jams or as a dried fruit. However, there can be a significant amount of unethical and unsustainable qualities to the production of apricots. So we had to ask: Is eating apricots ethical and sustainable?

Kiwis are a delicious tropical fruit. In popular culture, they are most associated with the nation of New Zealand and their birds of the same name. They are a lucrative industry too, with the global kiwi market worth almost $7 billion as of 2019. Moreover, they pack in a significant amount of fiber and vitamin C. But there can also be some significantly unsustainable and unethical aspects of kiwi production. So we had to ask: Is eating kiwis ethical and sustainable?

Bananas are a very popular fruit, with over 100 billion consumed every year, especially considering their wide culinary uses, from banana bread to milkshakes. They also have some notable health benefits. They’re high in fiber, protein, and potassium. However, there can also be some extremely unethical and unsustainable components to banana production. So we had to ask: Is eating bananas ethical and sustainable?

Strawberries are a tasty and versatile summer treat, featured in everything from jams and smoothies to the iconic strawberry shortcake. They are popular too, with the average American consuming around 8 lbs of strawberries every year. In terms of their health benefits, strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges and significant protein and fiber. However, there can also be many ethics and sustainability issues in the strawberry industry. So we had to ask: Is eating strawberries ethical and sustainable?

Grapes are a delicious and versatile fruit, with 30% being consumed directly, and the other 70% used to make wine. Originating as a crop around 8,000 years ago, grapes have a long agricultural history. However, there can also be some very unethical and unsustainable components to the grape industry. So we had to ask: Is eating grapes ethical and sustainable?

Cantaloupe is a popular fruit in the US, with over 1 billion pounds produced each year. They’re also a source of many major nutrients, such as potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin A. However, cantaloupes can also have some seriously unethical and unsustainable components to their production. So, we had to ask: Is eating cantaloupes ethical and sustainable?

In an average year, over 25,000 tons of pears are consumed globally, making them an immensely popular fruit. They can be used in anything from elegant French pastries (Tarte Bourdaloue, anyone?) to delicious juices. But there are also many practices that can be unethical or unsustainable about the pear industry. So we had to ask: Is eating pears ethical and sustainable?

Cherries are a staple fruit in everything from pies to mixed drinks. Moreover, their blossoms draw millions of crowds to public parks every spring, especially in Japan. They’re healthy too—a cup of cherries provides 3 grams of fiber and 1.4 grams of protein. But there are also many unethical and unsustainable qualities to cherries. So we had to ask: Is eating cherries ethical and sustainable?

With over 200 varieties cultivated in the US, the plum is one of the most popular and diverse native North American fruits. They are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, with relatively few calories per unit! But there can also be many unethical and unsustainable components to the plum industry. So we had to ask: Is eating plums ethical and sustainable?

Corn is the number one commodity grown by U.S. farmers. In fact, America is the largest producer and consumer of corn worldwide, dubbed as a corn global superpower. This sweet-tasting vegetable is also highly versatile, used in a variety of foods from popcorn and tortillas to high-fructose corn syrup, which is found in various items like soda and baked goods. Corn is even utilized in some of the most unexpected places, like envelopes, batteries, and toothpaste! Yet, much less is shared about the environmental impact, and especially the carbon emissions of corn. So we had to ask: What is the carbon footprint of corn?

Raspberries are a popular and diverse fruit with over 200 varieties. Moreover, raspberry production is ever-growing. For example, almost a million tons of the fruit were grown in 2021, which is an increase of 34% since 2011. But there can also be some significant ethical and sustainability concerns when it comes to eating raspberries. So we had to ask: Is eating raspberries ethical and sustainable?

Blackberry picking is a favorite pastime of many Americans. The blackberry industry itself is worth over $38 million, with 51.3 million lbs produced every year. Hailed as a “superfood”, blackberries are teeming with many essential nutrients, not to mention their delicious tangy flavor. However, many parts of the blackberry farming and production process can be very unsustainable and unethical. So we had to ask: Is eating blackberries ethical and sustainable?

Limes are a very popular fruit with over 23.5 million tons produced every single year. They are commonly used in desserts like key lime pie and even classic cocktails. Limes pack a health punch too, containing a healthy amount of vitamin C and antioxidants. But there can also be some unethical and unsustainable qualities to the production and farming of limes. So we had to ask: Is eating limes ethical and sustainable?

Clementines have been popular for centuries. They contain just 35 calories and are full of vitamin C and antioxidants. Sometimes known as mandarin oranges, clementines are native to South and Southeast Asia, but are now grown all over the world. However, clementines can also have some unethical and unsustainable practices associated with them. So we had to ask: Is eating clementines ethical and sustainable?