A Comparative Analysis of the Water Use and Nutritional Value for California Commodities

To create a more sustainable food system, this study analyzed the water use and nutritional data for California commodities. The data were separated into quadrants based on median scores, with results that include a list of commodities lower in agricultural water use while being higher in nutritional value. Because the agricultural sector is the dominant water user, there is an opportunity here to influence growers, consumers and policymakers to choose and support the growth of foods that would reduce water consumption while still providing beneficial nutrients. The goal of this paper is to educate the public on this important issue.