Ever wondered how much water it takes to produce the foods you eat?

It takes 1,500,000 gallons of water to produce the food consumed each year by the average U.S. Resident.
-National Park Service

Water required to produce some of the foods we eat:

* lettuce: 23 gallons per pound
* tomatoes: 30 gallons per pound
* carrots: 33 gallons per pound
* oranges: 49 gallons per pound
* apples: 49 gallons per pound
* tomato sauce: 52 gallons per pound
* potatoes: 60 gallons per pound
* broccoli: 65 gallons per pound
* cantaloupe: 80 gallons per pound
* milk: 96 gallons per pound
* orange juice: 98 gallons per pound
* wheat: 108 gallons per pound
* wheat bread: 126 gallons per pound
* corn: 168 gallons per pound
* plain yogurt: 176 gallons per pound
* white bread: 198 gallons per pound
* avocado: 220 gallons per pound
* white sugar: 224 gallons per pound
* soybeans: 240 gallons per pound
* tofu: 244 gallons per pound
* brown rice: 256 gallons per pound
* pasta: 288 gallons per pound
* alfalfa: 360 gallons per pound
* white rice: 400 gallons per pound
* eggs: 573 gallons per pound
* chicken: 815 gallons per pound
* cheese: 896 gallons per pound
* almonds: 1280 gallons per pound
* pork: 1630 gallons per pound
* butter: 2044 gallons per pound
* beef: 2500-5000 gallons per pound


Sources include the Water Education Foundation, University of California Agricultural Extension & Ecological Intensity