About Us

Since 2007, we’ve been offering healthy alternatives for local shoppers who care about where their food comes from. We are a hub for fresh, local, organic, and GMO-free products that help to create a sustainable food supply for our community. Many of our vendors live right here in Thurston County, and you may run into them when you visit the store.

Everyone is welcome!

Whether you’ve been a co-op member since birth or are brand new to the concept, our staff can help. All of us are knowledgeable about the products we carry and we’re happy to share that knowledge. You don’t need to be a member to shop here, but you won’t want to miss out on the many benefits of becoming a member. We offer the following services to our community:

  • We accept food stamps
  • We honor other co-op’s memberships.
  • We offer servicemen and women who present military ID or are in uniform member prices and other buying privileges.

Get Involved. Volunteers, also known as Working Members, are the backbone of our organization. They contribute time and energy to everything from cashiering and stocking items to creating signs and helping with special events. Want to get involved?

OUR VISION 

  • To be a central location for our community reflecting values of a healthy lifestyle. 
  • To serve our community by investing in our local food producers and businesses. 
  • To be able to promote the values of organic, healthy foods.
  • To be a place of education for our community with regard to these principles.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to continually grow our organization by educating ourselves and practicing the fundamental principles of cooperation, membership service and community service on an ongoing basis.

We are a community-owned grocery store that serves the community’s needs, not the needs of big corporations. We source our products as close to home as possible. By sourcing locally and selling sustainable and natural products, The Yelm Food Coop keeps our community’s money in the local economy, which promotes local independence.

OUR STAFF

  • Alex Dowell – Cashier
  • Brenda Hough – Shift Lead
  • Christina Hoelzer – Shift Lead
  • Debera Ricalde – Assistant Manager
  • Diane D’Acuti – Cashier
  • Emily Ranken – Store Manager
  • Florence Vincent – Buyer /

    Merchandiser
  • Glenadine O’Harra – Cashier
  • Isagani Ricalde – Cashier
  • Jutta Dewell – Store Manager
  • Marc Hannon – Cashier
  • Margaret Gilbride – Wine
  • Department Manager
  • Michael Burke – Shift Lead
  • Michaela Perkins – Cashier
  • Ute Christine Jarlik – Floor Manager

How are we doing financially?

Daily totals from the pont of sale system

Expenses updated the third week of the next month.

Supporting Our Local Producers

Siggi’s plant based coconut blends

These Siggi’s are delicious. They are a plant based coconut blend in Mixed Berries and Vanilla Cinnamon flavors. Staff that sampled them really liked them.

Brown Cow new flavors

We have new flavors of Brown Cow. Along with our existing flavors we now have, Maple, Raspberry, Cherry Vanilla, Blueberry, Strawberry and Vanilla.

Force of Nature Ground Elk

While we are out of our regular Ground Elk, we thought we’d bring in some Elk meat with grass fed beef from Force of Nature

Kiki Milks

We love Kiki Milk, it’s clean and delicious. Along with the Mac Milk and Chocolate Milk in two sizes, (Florence buys it by the case), we’ve had customers asking for an unsweetened version, so here it is.

Dr. Bronner’s Bulk Liquid Soaps

Dr. Bronner’s has just brought the world their famous liquid soaps in bulk. We have their Lavender, Unscented and Peppermint scents. They join our full display of scents.

The Good Crisp Cheese Balls

Customers really love The Good Crisp Chips, we have them in four flavors, so when they came up with these Cheese Balls we felt we needed to bring them in for you.

Birthday Cake Crispy Bars and Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Annie’s Organic Birthday Cake Flavored Rice Crispy Snack Bars (are selling like hot cakes) and Nature’s Path Organic Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal.

Cotton Rounds

We’ve been looking for new Organic Cotton Rounds as our customers weren’t happy with the ones we had in stock. We like this Sky Organics brand.

Broccoli Quiche