This is one huge country that many people don't even get the gist of.
Especially when it comes to cookery.
I'm always amused when a celebrity chef says something like, "available in stores everywhere...." Sure. So long as you define "everywhere" as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Most people, especially urbanites, not only do not realize how big this country is, they haven't a clue how empty it can be, once you're even a short way out of the city.
I live within the SMSA of the second largest city in Kentucky. But my nearest neighbor is about a half mile away.
Rural living certainly has its advantages---that's why I chose it. But for a cook it is not exactly ingredients-central. We shop in Lexington (30 miles away) because even the supermarkets here in town do not carry much of what we need. Even so, we visit as many as 8 stores in Lexington, each week, and still have to order many things on line.
There is, in the whole region, one real butcher---who has high prices and small selection; one fishmonger---but you wouldn't want to buy anything there, cause the place smells so bad; and zero, nada, no bake shops worth the name.
I don't want to imply that it's all bad. If you take the time to ferret them out, there are small ethnic and specialty stores. Unfortunately, they go in and out of business so often it's hard to keep up. And there's a water mill only 45 miles away, where I buy my flours. Not being confined to a suburban backyard, my gardens could be the size of Rhode Island if I so wished. Alternatively, during the growing season, if I throw a rock in any direction I'll hit a farmers market or farmstand. And in a pinch, both Louisville and Cincinnate are about 85 miles away.