Give Business to Locals
Consider buying food, especially fruits and vegetables, from small-scale operations and local farmers. In addition to supporting local economies, you will reduce your carbon footprint because your food will travel fewer miles to get to you.
Additional Information:
In Ames, we have many farmers markets -- three, actually. (1) http://www.localharvest.org/ames-downtown-farmers-market-M19239; (2) http://www.local-farmers-markets.com/market/1375/ames/north-grand-farmers-market-association; (3) http://www.mainstreetculturaldistrict.com/en/news.cfm?fuseaction=announcements.viewThisAnnouncement&EventID=822&pageid=673