When it comes to commodity investing, there are a few big players that tend to gather the majority of investor attention. Futures products like crude, gold, and natural gas gobble up headlines while others like sugar and aluminum tend to fall by the wayside. But there are a number of viable alternatives in the commodity space that are linked more closely with our economy than investor attention. Commodities like zinc and tin have far more practical use than something like gold, yet their respective volumes come nowhere near the coveted precious metal. For those investors looking to make a commodity play that brings you closer to the ground in an economic sense, there are a number of strong options available [see also 50 Ways To Invest In Gold].