Money spent with a local, independent business recirculates locally at a substantially higher rate than money spent at a chain — it pays neighbors, local suppliers, and local services rather than leaving the county.
In practical Lake County terms, that means the egg money goes to a neighbor with forty hens, the produce money stays with a grower down the road, and the rest stays in 32776.
It also changes the product. Small producers compete on quality and relationships because they can't compete on price or scale.
Finding local isn't hard here: weekend markets in Mount Dora and Eustis, roadside stands along the county roads, farm pages on social media, and cottage bakeries taking weekly preorders.
The simplest habit: pick one category — bread, eggs, produce, honey — and move it local permanently. One category, done consistently, beats good intentions.