Interesting perspective from the Freakanomics blog: more wrapping of food is likely better for the environment.

Sure, the wrapping will end up in the trash, but more, better and more convenient wrapping prevents the food from doing so.

Food is worse in the garbage since it will either produce methane in a landfill or make the incinerator burn at a lower temperature; plastic or paper wrapping will instead not really decompose or make the incinerator burn warmer.

What we should aim for it not necessarily less wrapping, buy better wrapping that allows us to consume more of the food.

Eating local is not really a solution – producing food in bulk is more efficient environment wise, also factoring in transport.