Is Eating Grapefruits Ethical & Sustainable? Here Are the Facts
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Grapefruits are the cousin of the citrus family, known for their semi-sweet, bitter taste. They are a breakfast staple, with lots of fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin A to help you start your day. Grapefruits are incredibly popular, with the grapefruit industry valued at $8 billion in 2018 and projected to grow to over $11 billion by 2027. But grapefruit production can also have some unethical and unsustainable impacts. So we had to ask: Is eating grapefruits ethical and sustainable?
Eating grapefruits is moderately ethical. Grapefruits don’t have major dangers associated with their farming, and they lack many significant reports of labor violations, especially in the US. However, there are some labor issues associated with the Moroccan grapefruit industry.
Eating grapefruits is moderately sustainable. They engage in monoculture farming, contribution to deforestation, and plastic and styrofoam packaging. However, they also have many sustainable qualities, such as a low carbon footprint, low pesticide usage, and low irrigation requirements.
In this article, we will assess both the ethical and sustainability practices of the grapefruit industry. Through these two lenses, you will be able to gain in-depth knowledge of the overall impacts of the grapefruits that you eat!
Here’s How We Assessed the Ethics & Sustainability of Grapefruits
The Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) is one of the ways we measure the externalities of our actions, like the consumption of grapefruits. It is a holistic assessment based on the potential impact of food and agriculture operations on the environment and people. Those impacts are changes in our environment that can have adverse effects on the air, land, water, fish, and wildlife or the inhabitants of the ecosystem.
“Ethical: The discipline concerned with what is morally good and bad and morally right and wrong”
Encyclopedia Britannica
Ethics and sustainability are closely interconnected concepts that share a common objective: the well-being and preservation of our planet, including all its life and future generations.
“Sustainable: The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level | Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance”
Oxford Dictionary
Basically, all goods and services you buy—including grapefruits—leave an impact on people, animals, and our environment. And when it comes to food in general—and grapefruits in specific—the following are key factors for their ethics and sustainability:
- Social and economic conditions: The ethics of food crucially depends on the social and economic conditions of the farmers who grow them. Especially on fair labor practices, including fair wages and safe working conditions.
- Seasonality: Eating seasonally is a lever of sustainability. The two key reasons are that seasonal food is more likely grown in their “natural growing season” without using greenhouses, and also more likely to be grown locally.
- Land requirements: Large parts of the world that were once covered by forests and wildlands are now used for agriculture. 10 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually and 50% of the world’s habitable land is now used for agriculture. This loss of natural habitat has been the main driver for reducing the world’s biodiversity.
- Water footprint: 70% of global freshwater is now used for agricultural purposes. By assessing the water footprint of a particular food, we can determine how our limited freshwater resources are being consumed and polluted.
- Pesticide and fertilizer usage: Pesticides and fertilizers provide a range of agricultural benefits. However, numerous studies link pesticides and fertilizers to serious effects on human health, along with disruptions to vital ecosystems and the spread of aquatic dead zones.
- Carbon footprint: The carbon footprint is one of the ways we measure the effects of our human-induced global climate change. Today, food production accounts for over a quarter (26%) of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Waste generation: Food and its packaging account for almost 45% of the materials landfilled in the US alone. And packaging sent to landfills, especially when made from plastics, does not degrade quickly or, in some cases, at all.
To understand the overall environmental impact of grapefruits, we must assess each of their key factors. This Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) is a tool developed for assessing the impact of food and agriculture operations on the environment and people. And this tool helps us to evaluate whether eating grapefruits is ethical & sustainable.
Here’s How Ethical & Sustainable Eating Grapefruits Is
The overall ethics & sustainability of grapefruits is decent. They only engage in a few unethical and unsustainable practices, such as lower wages, monoculture farming, and plastic and styrofoam packaging. They are more ethical and sustainable than many other fruits.
Grapefruits have a lot of positive qualities when it comes to ethics and sustainability. They don’t have major reports of child labor, they are grown in the US year-round, and they only need a small amount of irrigation. However, there are still some ethical issues that you should be aware of when buying grapefruits.
So, let’s have a look at the ethics & sustainability impact of each key factor of grapefruits!
Key Assessment Factors | Ethics & Sustainability |
Social and economic conditions of grapefruits | Grapefruits’ social and economic conditions are adequate. The industry doesn’t engage in many unethical practices, especially compared to some other fruits. However, there is evidence that it is occasionally involved in exploitative migrant worker programs. |
Seasonality of grapefruits | Grapefruits’ seasonality is the same year-round. Since they are grown in the US, they are fairly sustainable. |
Land requirements for grapefruits | Grapefruits’ land requirements are moderate. However, their use of monoculture agriculture and participation in desertification and deforestation mean that their land use is not very sustainable overall. |
Water footprint of grapefruits | Grapefruits have a moderately high water requirement of around 60 inches of water per year. Because of where they grow, they require a small amount of irrigation. They also use significant plastic packaging, which impacts natural water sources negatively. |
Agrochemical usage for grapefruits | The agrochemical usage for grapefruits is moderate. While their pesticide use is low, they are fertilized with nitrogen fertilizer, which is very unsustainable. |
Carbon footprint of grapefruits | Grapefruits have a low carbon footprint of 0.08kg (0.18lb) of CO2e per pound of grapefruit. This is mainly caused by the mechanization required during the harvesting and processing stages, the use of styrofoam and plastic packaging, and low composting rates. |
Waste generation of grapefruits | Grapefruits’ waste generation is very high. This is mainly because they use hard-to-recycle materials like plastic and styrofoam in their packaging. |
These are the overall summaries, but there is a lot more to the story. In the next few sections, we will dive deeper into each stage to illustrate to you all the important aspects of grapefruits’ ethics & sustainability.
How Ethical & Sustainable Are the Social and Economic Conditions for Grapefruits
Grapefruits’ social and economic conditions are adequate. The industry doesn’t engage in many unethical practices, especially compared to some other fruits. However, there is evidence that it is occasionally involved in exploitative migrant worker programs.
Everything we consume was made or harvested by somebody. In past centuries, this was often someone who lived in your community and who you might have even known personally. But through the rise of globalized distribution systems, we have become increasingly alienated from the people who make our food. This leaves a lot of room for exploitation and abuse, both of which are rampant in the food industry. Here, we will look at how the grapefruit industry fares in relation to these ethical questions.
How ethical & sustainable are the social and economic conditions of growing grapefruits?
- Are farmers paid fair wages to grow grapefruits: Grapefruit pickers in the US make around $7.45 per hour, plus benefits. This is slightly higher than the minimum wage in the country. However, living off of minimum wage in the US is becoming increasingly difficult, with workers earning minimum wage for a family of four being significantly below the poverty line. So, while grapefruit pickers’ wages are technically legal, many of them likely live below the poverty line.
- How safe are the working conditions to grow grapefruits: Like with all tree fruits, grapefruits come with some hazards for pickers, such as falling from tall ladders and ergonomic back pain. These, however, are minor dangers compared to many other fruits like peaches, which also have additional risks such as chemical exposure.
- Are there reports of child or forced labor to grow grapefruits: There are no major accounts of grapefruit using child or forced labor.
- What is the wider economic impact on the communities that grow grapefruits: Though grapefruit farmers do make at least minimum wage, many of them are migrant workers, especially in Florida. Migrant workers are generally workers from South or Central America that are in the US because they are contracted to a particular farm. This can help people from countries with high unemployment rates find work, but it also means that they are vulnerable to exploitation. They often live on-site and are subject to poor housing conditions.
In short, the fact that grapefruits are farmed using migrant labor programs can compromise their ethics, but they are otherwise a somewhat ethical fruit.
How Ethical & Sustainable Are the Seasonality for Grapefruits
Grapefruits’ seasonality is the same year-round. Since they are grown in the US, they are fairly sustainable.
Every fruit has a natural season in which they grow, usually lasting a couple of months, which can range depending on the region. However, international demand for every kind of fruit is year-round. This demand is often met by importing fruits from tropical places which can grow year-round, or by growing them in greenhouses. Both of these methods use more resources and are thus less sustainable than conventional farming. Here, we will look at how the grapefruit industry accommodates year-round demand.
How ethical & sustainable is it to grow grapefruits in-season vs out-of-season?
- When is the natural season for growing and harvesting grapefruits: Grapefruits are more widely available during the winter months, although they are still available year-round.
- How are grapefruits naturally grown in-season: Grapefruits are grown on trees in orchards. Grapefruit trees don’t produce usable grapefruits until their third year of growth. Individual grapefruits take a long time to mature, on average 9 months and sometimes up to a year to grow, depending on climate. After this, they can be harvested year-round within the US, meaning they are fairly sustainable.
- How are grapefruits grown out-of-season: Grapefruits are available within the US year-round and so they are fairly sustainable, no matter the time of year.
In short, seasonality does not have a major impact on grapefruits’ sustainability, since they are in season all year in the US.
How Ethical & Sustainable Are the Land Requirements for Grapefruits
Grapefruits’ land requirements are moderate. However, their use of monoculture agriculture and participation in desertification and deforestation mean that their land use is not very sustainable overall.
The growth stage has a major impact on fruits’ sustainability. The amount of land used, especially in relation to its expansion, the method with which they are grown, and their effect on surrounding land and wildlife are all important factors. In this section, we will look at the ways in which grapefruits’ land usage affects their sustainability.
How ethical & sustainable are the land requirements for growing grapefruits?
- What is the land usage of grapefruits: Grapefruits yield around 40–50 tons per hectare. This is a very good yield compared to other fruits. While some, like bananas, can yield up to 100 tons per hectare, many other fruits, like watermelons only yield around 2–3 tons per hectare.
- Where and how are grapefruits grown: Most grapefruits are grown in the US on trees in orchards. Citrus trees are known to store carbon effectively. This means that they can capture carbon from the air and sequester it in the ground. This lowers their carbon footprint and thus increases their sustainability.
- Are grapefruits grown in monocultures or polycultures: Grapefruits grow in monocultures primarily. Citrus fruits are known to be some of the biggest monoculture crops. Monocultures are very harmful to the environment and incredibly unsustainable.
- How does the growing of grapefruits affect soil fertility and erosion: Citrus farms have been identified as a major driver of soil erosion. Excess soil erosion and depletion of nutrients can lead to a phenomenon known as desertification. Desertification renders vast swaths of land completely uninhabitable and unfarmable, essentially turning them into deserts.
- How does the grapefruits industry affect the loss of habitable land: Grapefruits have been linked with deforestation efforts around the world, particularly in Brazil. Deforestation is not just bad for the specific wildlife and people who live there, but can cause chain reactions with global consequences.
- How does the grapefruits industry affect wildlife and biodiversity: The fact that grapefruits are grown in monocultures is very harmful to wildlife and biodiversity. The shorter pollination times within monoculture farms mean that pollinators like bees and butterflies are malnourished throughout the year. As a result, the grapefruit industry can have a very negative impact on wildlife and biodiversity.
In short, grapefruit land usage, though economical, still contributes to very unsustainable phenomena such as desertification and deforestation.
How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Water Footprint of Grapefruits
Grapefruits have a moderately high water requirement of around 60 inches of water per year. Because of where they grow, they require a small amount of irrigation. They also use significant plastic packaging, which impacts natural water sources negatively.
Water usage is one of the most important factors in a fruit’s sustainability. Practices like irrigation use significant resources and can cause pollution, and as such, factors like the amount of water used, where it is sourced, as well as the way they affect the water sources around them, are all important. Here, we will look at these different angles of grapefruits’ water footprint.
How ethical & sustainable is the water footprint of growing grapefruits?
- What is the overall water usage of grapefruits: Citrus trees generally need about 60 inches of water per year on average, including grapefruits. This is a fairly high water requirement amongst fruits. For example, cherries only need around 35 inches of water per year. However, there are some fruits, such as watermelons, which need around 100 inches of water per year. Therefore, grapefruits have a moderately high water footprint.
- What is the green water footprint of grapefruits: The green water footprint is the amount of water from precipitation stored in the soil and used by plants for growth. Most grapefruits consumed in the US are grown in Florida, which gets around 54 inches of rain per year. This means that the vast majority of water in the area is going towards grapefruit farming and so grapefruits’ green water footprint is high.
- What is the blue water footprint of grapefruits: The blue water footprint is the amount of water sourced from surface (such as rivers or lakes) or groundwater resources. Since Florida does not get quite enough rainfall to support grapefruits’ water needs, grapefruits require a small amount of irrigation. Therefore, grapefruits’ blue water footprint is moderate.
- What is the gray water footprint of grapefruits: The gray water footprint is the amount of freshwater required to clean up water pollution to meet certain quality standards. Essentially, it’s the amount of water needed to make polluted water clean enough to be safe and healthy for humans and the environment. Grapefruits and other citrus use low amounts of pesticides. Therefore, only a small amount of water will be needed to clean up their pesticide residues. As a result, their gray water footprint is fairly low.
- How does the grapefruits industry affect freshwater and ocean pollution: Irrigation has a significant impact on freshwater sources. For one, it can cause imbalances in the groundwater levels, as well as salinization in the water. Finally, grapefruits also have been known to use plastic and styrofoam in their packaging, which can cause ocean pollution.
In short, grapefruits have a very unsustainable water footprint because of their use of irrigation and plastic and styrofoam packaging.
How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Agrochemical Usage for Grapefruits
The agrochemical usage for grapefruits is moderate. While their pesticide use is low, they are fertilized with nitrogen fertilizer, which is very unsustainable.
Pesticides and fertilizers are agrochemicals that are very unsustainable and damaging to ecosystems. This is because they require resources to create and can easily run off into groundwater and soil systems. Here, we will look at how sustainable grapefruits’ pesticide and fertilizer rates really are.
How ethical & sustainable is the agrochemical usage of growing grapefruits?
- What is the pesticide usage of grapefruits: Grapefruits use a very small amount of pesticides. This means that they avoid many of the unsustainable consequences that pesticides can cause.
- What is the fertilizer usage of grapefruits: Grapefruits are primarily fertilized using nitrogen. Nitrogen is one of the worst fertilizers for the environment, making grapefruits very unsustainable in this area.
- Are there any known issues connected to the agrochemical usage for grapefruits: Nitrogen fertilizers in particular cause a whole slew of problems for water, soil, and air. They cause the emission of nitrous oxide, which is actually 300 times stronger than carbon. They are also known to cause invasive algae growth, which is very damaging to ecosystems. As a result, nitrogen fertilizer greatly reduces grapefruits’ sustainability.
In short, grapefruits’ agrochemical usage is moderately unsustainable. On the one hand, their pesticide use is low. But on the other hand, they use nitrogen, one of the most harmful fertilizers.
How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Carbon Footprint of Grapefruits
Grapefruits have a low carbon footprint of 0.08kg (0.18lb) of CO2e per pound of grapefruit. This is mainly caused by the mechanization required during the harvesting and processing stages, the use of styrofoam and plastic packaging, and low composting rates.
Carbon footprint is one aspect of the overall sustainability of a fruit. It essentially measures how much carbon or other greenhouse gasses the production of fruits emits into the atmosphere. Emissions from product manufacturing, irrigation, transportation fuel, and landfills all add up to create the overall carbon footprint of a fruit. Let’s see how the carbon footprint of grapefruits contributes to their overall sustainability.
How ethical & sustainable is the carbon footprint of grapefruits?
- What is the overall carbon footprint of grapefruits: The overall carbon footprint of grapefruits is 0.08kg (0.18lb) of CO2e per pound of grapefruit. This means that for every pound of grapefruits produced, 0.08kg of carbon is released into the atmosphere. This is a very low carbon footprint compared to other fruits.
- What are the main contributors to the carbon footprint of grapefruits: The main factors contributing to grapefruits’ carbon footprint are their mechanical harvesting and processing, the use of plastic and styrofoam packaging, and their low composting rates.
- Which life-cycle stage of grapefruits has the highest carbon footprint: The stage that contributes the most to grapefruits’ carbon footprint is harvesting, processing, and packaging grapefruits. This is mainly because of their mechanical harvesting process and their plastic and styrofoam packaging.
In short, grapefruits have one of the lowest carbon footprints among fruits. While they do have some emission-heavy components, they are overall one of the most carbon-conscious fruits you can buy.
How Ethical & Sustainable Is the Waste Generation of Grapefruits
Grapefruits’ waste generation is very high. This is mainly because they use hard-to-recycle materials like plastic and styrofoam in their packaging.
When fruit waste, either in the form of packaging or organic materials, is disposed of, it can cause a lot of problems. Whether it’s damaging wildlife, getting into oceans, emitting methane, or dissolving into microplastics that contaminate groundwater, all these materials have their part to play. The sheer amount of waste we produce is reaching a crisis point and won’t be able to continue much longer. In this section, we will look at how sustainable grapefruits’ waste generation is.
How ethical & sustainable is the waste generation of grapefruits?
- What is the packaging of grapefruits: Grapefruits use mainly plastic and styrofoam in their packaging. Both of these materials are very unsustainable in their manufacturing process. Styrofoam’s impact mainly comes from toxic chemicals leaked during their production. Plastic also has devastating impacts, creating air and water pollution which is harmful to people and wildlife.
- How is the packaging of grapefruits disposed of: Both plastic and styrofoam have very low recycling rates, at 9% and 1%, respectively. This means that the majority of grapefruit packaging is going to end up in landfills. Landfills are very unsustainable because of their high greenhouse gas emissions, chemical runoff, and land clearing.
- How are grapefruits disposed of: Grapefruits have peels that are not generally eaten. They can technically be composted, but unfortunately, only 4% of food waste is actually composted. Even worse, when food waste is in landfills, it releases a greenhouse gas called methane. Because of this low recycling rate, grapefruit waste is significantly unsustainable.
In short, grapefruits’ use of plastic and styrofoam packaging, as well as their low composting rates, means that their waste generation is very unsustainable.
What Have Been Historical Ethics & Sustainability Issues Connected to the Grapefruit Industry
The grapefruit industry has historically engaged in some unethical and unsustainable practices. This is mainly due to workers being exploited in Morocco, monoculture farming techniques, nitrogen fertilizer usage, and land consumption.
All fruits have had a complex road toward global distribution. They originate in one part of the world and often travel far to end up in your local supermarket. From farm to table, some of our favorite fruits have racked up some serious environmental damage along the way. Whether it’s deforestation to meet demand, water pollution, or disruption of wildlife. Let’s see how grapefruits have fared throughout history.
What have been the key ethical & sustainable issues of the grapefruit industry?
- Has labor been exploited because of grapefruits production: There have been reports of worker exploitation, especially of women workers, in the Moroccan grapefruit industry. These reports show that not all grapefruits are farmed ethically and so you should still be careful about where you are buying your grapefruits from.
- How much land has been lost because of grapefruit production: Citrus has historically been one of the biggest fruit markets, especially in the US. For example, in Florida alone, it accounts for over 150,000 hectares of farmland. Florida’s wetlands have been negatively affected by agricultural farming in the region, partially due to grapefruit farming.
- Which wildlife species have been negatively impacted or displaced because of grapefruit production: Wildlife is very negatively affected by monocultures. Grapefruits’ use of monoculture farming has affected the biodiversity of many regions over the years, especially in Florida.
- Have water sources and soil been contaminated because of grapefruits production: Nitrogen fertilizer has had a very devastating effect on waterways. It has been damaging to significant amounts of soil, groundwater, and freshwater. The fact that grapefruit uses this fertilizer means that it has greatly impacted these ecosystems over the years.
In short, grapefruits’ use of worker exploitation in Morocco, land clearance, monoculture farming, and nitrogen fertilizer are all majorly unethical and unsustainable aspects of the grapefruit industry.
How Can You Reduce Your Environmental Impact and Offset Your Personal Carbon Footprint
There are a few things you can do to make your grapefruit consumption more ethical and sustainable, while still enjoying them. You can also consider offsetting your personal and grapefruit-related carbon emissions, which work to remove carbon emissions elsewhere that are then attributed to you. Here, we will walk you through how to accomplish both of these things.
How Can You Shop for Grapefruits More Ethically & Sustainably
In this section, we give you a short list of ways you can consume grapefruits in a more sustainable way. This list is designed to target the most unsustainable parts of grapefruits’ life-cycle:
- Buy US grapefruits: Though the US grapefruit market isn’t perfect, other countries like Morocco have a worse track record when it comes to the treatment of grapefruit farmers. Plus, US grapefruits require less transportation than Moroccan grapefruits and thus are more sustainable.
- Support raising the federal minimum wage: Since the minimum wage, which many grapefruit farmers earn, is no longer enough to keep people above the poverty line, it will greatly help them if the minimum wage is raised. This will force farm owners to pay their workers a fairer wage.
- Compost your grapefruit peels: Food waste in landfills is very unsustainable. If you want to really help make your grapefruit consumption more sustainable, you should make an effort to compost your grapefruit peels. If your city doesn’t have a composting system, you can consider making one yourself.
- Re-use your grapefruit peels: Even better than composting is using the whole fruit in the first place! There are a multitude of uses for grapefruit peels, including making candy, teas, liqueurs, and even cleaning supplies!
Following some of these methods can really help you to make your grapefruit-eating more sustainable. None of these will completely eradicate the negative impacts, since there are always effects that may be outside of your control. But some reduction is always better than nothing!
Which Organizations Can You Support to Help Promote Ethics & Sustainability
While grapefruit production engages in some very unsustainable practices, there are also some organizations that help you change the parts of these processes that would otherwise be outside of your control. These organizations are working hard to prevent and reverse damage to the environment caused by industries like grapefruit agriculture, towards a more sustainable future.
In the table below are some of the best charities that work in the areas where grapefruit production are very unsustainable—and beyond:
Though it is helpful to boost the sustainability of your personal grapefruit consumption, supporting these organizations takes your positive impact a step further. You will be reaching far beyond your own consumption impacts and helping to build a better world for everyone!
How Can You Offset Your Personal Carbon Footprint
The carbon footprint is a key part of how sustainable we live. And it is one of the ways we measure the effects of our human-induced global climate change. Yes, even from eating grapefruits!
“Carbon footprint: the amount of greenhouse gasses and specifically carbon dioxide emitted by something (such as a person’s activities or a product’s manufacture and transport) during a given period”
Merriam Webster
Basically, it is the amount of carbon emitted by you as an individual or an organization providing you with goods and services – including grapefruits:
- This includes GHG emissions from producing the products that we use and foods that we eat (e.g., power plants, factories or farms, and landfills)
- GHG emissions from fuel that we burn directly or indirectly (e.g., logistics and transportation, cooling or heating facilities),
- as well as the GHG emissions attributed to how we consume these products and foods.
Carbon offsets are reductions in carbon emissions that are used to compensate for carbon emissions occurring elsewhere – for example for the carbon emissions that are associated with grapefruits. They are measured in tons of CO2 equivalents and are bought and sold through international brokers, online retailers, and trading platforms on what is known as the global carbon offset market.
“Carbon Offset: a way for a company or person to reduce the level of carbon dioxide for which they are responsible by paying money to a company that works to reduce the total amount produced in the world, for example by planting trees”
Oxford Dictionary
In terms of grapefruits – and indeed all food types – there will always be a carbon footprint, because of the resources it takes to get your food from farms to the place where you’ll eventually eat them. And while there are ways to reduce your carbon footprint when shopping for grapefruits, carbon offsets would be a way to reduce your CO2e emissions all the way down to net zero (or even to become climate positive).
However, when you purchase carbon offsets, it’s important that they actually make a difference in offsetting (aka reducing) total carbon emissions. To achieve that, the following are key criteria:
- Carbon offset projects have to be effective (different projects have different effectiveness rates)
- Carbon offset projects have to be additional
- Carbon offset projects have to be permanent
- The claims from carbon offset projects have to be verifiable
To find the best carbon offsets for you personally, check out our full guide on the best carbon offsets for individuals, where you’ll also learn more about how these carbon offset projects work, what their respective offsetting costs are, and what your best way would be to offset your own carbon emissions.
Final Thoughts
Grapefruits are certainly not the worst among fruits when it comes to ethics and sustainability. They engage in more ethical labor practices and avoid more unsustainable qualities than many other fruits. However, there are still concerns, such as the chance of migrant worker exploitation and monoculture farming that mean grapefruits don’t get off completely free. Luckily, there are many things you can do to minimize these impacts, such as minimizing your packaging waste, and supporting environmentally and ethically-conscious organizations and policies that can help create a huge positive impact!
Stay impactful,
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- FAO: Environmental Considerations in Irrigation Development
- Frutas Hortalizas: Grapefruit Packaging
- The Guardian: Deadliest Plastics
- GOV.BC: Environmental Protection and Pesticides
- Gardening Tips: Best Fertilizer for Grapefruit Trees
- Mitsui: Reducing the Environmental Impact of Chemical Fertilizers
- Soil Association: Nitrogen Pollution
- EPA: The Issue With Nitrogen Fertilizer
- Repository Arizona: Mechanical Harvester for Lemons and Grapefruits
- EPA: Reducing the Impact of Wasted Food
- CEHN: Styrofoam FAQ
- Biological Diversity: The Plastic Production Problem
- Also Known As: 12 Interesting Facts About Packaging Waste
- Insider: Is Styrofoam Recyclable?
- Colorado: The Hidden Damage of Landfills
- GOV.BC: Waste Management
- Oxfam: The Workers Behind the Citrus Fruits
- AP News: After Hurricane Ian
- WUSF News: Too Much Polluted Agricultural Water
- Science Daily: Fertilizer Runoff in Streams and Rivers
- SN Applied Sciences Journal: Worldwide pesticide usage and its impacts on ecosystem
- Our World in Data: Global greenhouse gas emissions from food production
- Our World in Data: The environmental impacts of food and agriculture
- Earth Easy: Composting
- Winter Sweetz: Don’t Throw Away Those Grapefruit Peels
- Our World in Data: Greenhouse Gas Emissions per 1,000 kilocalories
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Climate Change Terms
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