When I think of how much water I consume, and where it comes from I think of Spain. Here in the Netherlands, most of the fresh produce is labeled with the country of origin. I eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and I see Spain on a lot of my fresh produce purchases. In that sense, I consume Spain’s water through “virtual” water found in fruits such as mangoes and oranges. When I first saw these labels, before I took this course, I pictured tropical orchards and lush farms as the source of my food. Then, in doing external research, I came across an article that shocked me.
This “sea of plastic” looks like something out of a dystopian future film, I could not believe it was reality. Since learning this information I have been considering what actions to take. On one hand I do not want to support these sorts of growing operations with but on the other, I want to eat strawberries. Becoming an informed consumer is so important, yet it leads to some hard decisions.
Expectation: 
Reality:
Expectation photo: https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-orange-orchard-morning-northern-thailand-image77383938
Reality photo: https://www.ecowatch.com/europes-dirty-little-secret-moroccan-slaves-and-a-sea-of-plastic-1882131257.html
Evelyn,
Your post really resonated with me for a few reasons — first, I’ve had the same experience in this class, picturing lush orchards and fields filled with the fresh, organic produce I usually purchase, only to now have a very different, realistic view of the situation. I used to think I made the best choices for my family and the environment, but I have an entirely different perspective now, thanks to this class. You’re absolutely right when you say that being “an informed consumer is so important, yet it leads to some hard decisions.” The consequences of our purchases are so impactful and systemic, as we’ve learned here.