I don't know about you, but when I hear of a Co-op grocery store I think of healthy food, and that's about where it ends for me. I had no idea that this little gem of a store in a town like Yelm would carry gourmet and specialty items I normally would have to travel to the city to buy.I first wandered into the Yelm Co-op maybe 6 months ago. I was surprised with what I found. They do have healthy food, in fact all of their produce is organic and priced reasonably. Most items in their store are local and organic. And they carry many items that aren't available anywhere else in Yelm. The raw Jersey milk from Dungeness Valley Creamery is very popular. I was told by volunteers that if you've never had raw milk you are in for a treat. The cream even forms to the top, I don't think you could get any fresher or purer unless you milked the cow yourself. (Please call first to make sure they have it, it goes fast!)
But to me it was items like culinary lavender that got me excited. Culinary lavender in Yelm! Geez, I couldn't believe my eyes! Organic crystallized ginger, (this is an ingredient I love for ginger cookies and gingerbread, and other baked goods) , organic cocoa, high quality extracts, and many other ingredients you would otherwise have to travel to Olympia to purchase.
The more I shopped there, the more I discovered how wonderful it really is. This is a store owned by it's members. Here are some facts from the Yelm Co-op's website , "Cooperatives are a specialized form of business with a legal structure that guarantees they will be governed democratically." So I felt not only do they have these great products, but I can feel good about supporting local businesses. Quoting Stay Local.org, "Your dollars spent in locally-owned businesses have three times the impact on your community as dollars spent at national chains. When shopping locally, you simultaneously create jobs, fund more city services through sales tax, invest in neighborhood improvement and promote community development."
Here's even more good news about the Yelm Co-op. You don't need to be a member. If you choose not to become a member, or you just want to check it out before committing, hey, no problem. You pay an extra 10 percent of the price on the shelf. But if you wish to become a member, the price is for full/regular membership, $135.00, or for Low income/senior, $75.00. That price is not per year, it's for a LIFETIME membership! Lifetime! And you don't even need to pay it at once. You can put $15.00 down and pay it within 12 months.
Another great thing for us with B&B's (and any student attending an event) is they stock up on ranch supplies when events are coming, with items like soup that you add hot water to. Also recently for Blue College shopping they charged foreign students member prices! I took my guests there and they loved it. They bought items like, fruit, soups, and trail mix.
So whether you are a local, or a student attending an event, do yourself a favor and check out the Yelm Food Co-op and see for yourself how wonderful it really is.
Yelm Food Co-op (it's across the street from JZ Rose)
404 1st St.
Yelm
360-400-2210
yelmcoop.com
Hours 10-7 Tues. through Sat.
**EDITED TO ADD- Tom, the manager of the Co-op notified me the payment for membership is now in full at time of application, or pay off in a maximum of 4 payments in a maximum of 6 months.
Jeanna, a wonderful volunteer
The famous Dungeness Valley Creamery Raw Jersey Milk
Unbleached Parchment Paper and waxed paper, and eco-friendly plastic bags!
Lots of Bob's Red Mill products
Organic produce
Beauty Products 
These high quality Frontier extracts have a wonderful taste. (I've used the maple to make maple buttercream for pumpkin cupcakes in the fall.)
Culinary Lavender! You can't find this at Safeway. I plan on making Lavender Honey Ice Cream in the Spring.
