The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is asking people to support local agriculture.
The Right Reverend Lorna Hood made the comments during a visit to the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston, near Edinburgh.
In the midst of the tough financial climate, Mrs Hood said buying local produce "helps keep a local person in a job".
"Even if it is a simple swap to local milk or eggs, it can and does make a difference," she said.
Mrs Hood commended supermarkets for doing more to widen the range of food available to consumers and ensure quality.
But she suggested consumers should also do their part to support the local economy by becoming more "savvy" and changing their relationship with food.
"This past spring has been difficult for Scottish farmers. I would love it if we could all do our bit to support them as much as we can. Food is a gift from God that we should value," she said.
