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 – Floor 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

Moving things around in the Apothecary

Your co-op is always changing to make sure we are an interesting place for you to shop. We’ve been working on our Apothecary to make it easier for you to find what you are looking for with more signs and products in alphabetical order. Come check us out. Our Kids...

Mutti Cherry Tomatoes and La Preferida Refried Beans

Mutti Cherry Tomatoes from Italy with so many brilliant recipes (although the recipe we’ve included calls for Mutti Tomato Paste, we have another great brand available at the store), and La Preferida Authentic Refied Beans.

Kiki Organic Plant-based milks

It’s delicious and it’s not just for kids!!! Kiki Organic Chocolate and Vanilla plant-based milks.

Miss Jones Confetti Pop Frosting

Look what we found. Along with the Cream Cheese and Chocolate Frosting from Miss Jones that we sampled last Wednesday, we found their Confetti Pop Icing. What fun! It’s Non-GMO Project Verified.

Thunder Ridge Emu Oil

We’ve had customers asking us to bring back Thunder Ridge Emu Oil, we didn’t even realize we had run out!

Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked Pulled Pork

These Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked Pulled Pork arrived by mistake, but once we saw that they don’t have any added sugar, we knew it wasn’t really a mistake! Come check them out.

Spectrum Organic Ground Flaxseed

  Spectrum Cold Milled Organic Ground Premium Flaxseed

Fresh Mari’s Farm Lettuce & Spinach; Fingerling Potatoes

These beautiful freshly harvested lettuces come from Yelm Mari's Farm the picture taken amidst the beauty at Gordon's Garden Center Wonderfully colored fingerlings surrounded by Yelm Mari's Farm spinach.