The amount of pollution released from the transport of home/locally grown produce is much less than transporting internationally or between states. According to the National Resources Defense Council, the pollution caused by importing produce like oranges into California is five times that of transporting locally/regionally produced food. My family grows oranges, limes, lemons, tomatoes, and many herbs and vegetables in our backyard, which cuts down greatly on our carbon footprint. When they're in season, we will have tons of fruit, so we'll squeeze orange juice/lemonade/limeade and bake key lime pies, all of which (in my opinion) taste way better than anything store bought. There's also a health benefit, as we can limit the amount of added sugar. Once it gets going, growing some of your own food is much more convenient, eco-friendly, and healthy than buying it all.

So you are saying everyone should grow their own veggies? Lots of people do not have the time nor room nor money to plant them how do you suggest that they get their food?

Not everyone needs to grow their own fruit and veggies, it is a time commitment, especially if you're just getting started. If it's possible with your own time and money restrictions, home growing produce can be a fun, healthy way to help reduce your carbon footprint. If not, it is good to try to go to farmer's markets or see what locally grown food is available in your area.

However locally grown fruit does happen to be a lot more expensive than fruit at like safeway or something. I totally see where your coming from and how that kind of food is so much better for you however do think there could be a solution for people who can't afford to eat like that?

I believe that Maya J is just saying that growing your own food is a good alternative to store bought. She's not saying you *have* to do this, she's just saying it is a good way to reduce your carbon footprint. Starting a garden may be expensive at first, but in the long run, it will definitely pay off. About $500 worth of produce can be produced from a well-maintained food garden, which will greatly reduce the cost of your grocery shopping, which will in turn reduce your carbon footprint. I grow lemons, limes, and bananas in my backyard, which takes very little effort to maintain, with great payoff. Those who cannot afford to buy food from the farmer's market may look into this option and decide if it works for them. I agree that it is not for everyone, as it can take up a lot of time and space, but it should be an option that is considered.

Source:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nut … sp?id=1738

I completely agree with everything you are saying. Your carbon footprint is decreased greatly when you grow your fruits in your own garden, rather than buying them at a store in which they were imported. Also, you know everything is fresh and no preservatives were added. According to http://www.greeneatz.com/foods-carbon-footprint.html, foods that are home grown are much better for you because you can get all of the nutrients from the soil. In addition to this, food from your own garden tastes so much better than food you buy at the store.

Going back to Makenna's comments above, locally grown foods are actually much cheaper than grocery-store bought items because the farmers do not pay for pesticides and genetic modifications as opposed to large-scale corporations around the world. Neighbors could also all grow different items in their individual backyards and then all who contribute could "trade" persay with each other. In turn, by doing this, you are helping out other people that are much closer to you in your life by purchasing or trading healthy goods amongst each other.
link with key information:
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natu … rs-market/

In addition to a lower cost for locally or home grown foods versus imported foods, many people find that the local foods taste fresher and better, I think the idea of growing different items and trading or buying from each other is a really creative and neat idea. I have to wonder though, for people living in apartments and large cities like New York, would this even be a possibility? Most of New York City is building after building. For those people, it's extremely hard if  not impossible to get locally grown foods.

I agree with Maya J. Growing your own food in a backyard garden will reduce the amount of transportation needed, both in your driving to the grocery store or farmer's market to buy the food and also the transportation involved in getting the foods from where they were grown to where they are bought. Unfortunately, some people are unable to have a backyard garden due to the regulations in their community. However, if everyone that is able to have a garden took advantage of that, the emission of greenhouse gasses would be greatly reduced. Luckily, the amount of people growing gardens has risen 63% according to Michael Metallo, the president of National Gardening Association.

Ashleigh, there are actually many ways to grow fruits and veggies in cities! You can grow a "garden" on a balcony/fire escape, but there is actually also a cool technique called hydroponic gardening. Hydroponics is basically gardening without soil, and it has many benefits. The growth rate on a hydroponic plant is 30-50% faster than a soil plant, and the plants actually tend to turn out better. Environmentally, it uses less water and no pesticides. It can also bring the opportunity for locally grown veggies into urban environments. In New York City, there is a barge with two greenhouses that are hydroponically growing tomatoes, vines, and lettuce. Similarly, there is a rooftop hydroponic garden in the Bronx that grows many leafy greens that are later locally sold. In fact, it is perfect for gardening in an urban environment, as modern rooftops can handle the weight of hydroponics, but not the weight of traditional soil gardening. There are a ton of pros to hydroponics, and it really is a neat system. 

Sources:
https://www.hydroponics.net/learn/hydro … dening_for _beginners.php
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_a … _city.html
http://modernfarmer.com/2013/08/a-hydro … the-bronx/

Growing your food is very good for the environment overall. I completely agree with all the things about how much pollution is produced for food to be transported to such far places.