shop local Archives - Community Food Co-op

Shop Small: A Gift Guide

Support the Co-op on Small Business Saturday and buy some fun items for your holiday gifts. The Co-op has unique items for gifts, stocking stuffers, and for yourself. Supporting the only locally-owned grocery store in Bellingham helps strengthen our community, local food network, and local producers.

We’ve selected some of our favorite gift items for everyone on your list.

For the Home Decorator

Holiday Wreaths

Wreaths make a welcoming statement to any entry. Skyflower Botanicals’ flowers and foliage are grown on a small, organic, and woman-owned farm along the South Fork of the Nooksack River. Their conifer greenery is responsibly harvested or purchased locally.

A holiday wreath with some blue and green foliage hangs on a wooden fixture.

Darling Orchids in a Ceramic Pot

An elegant, 2-inch orchid in a stylish white ceramic pot makes a lovely addition to any home. The Co-op sells both white and colorful orchids, all potted, for easy gift giving.

Danica Heirloom Mugs

Hot chocolate and eggnog tastes better out of one of the delightful patterns adorning Danica Heirloom mugs.

A pinecone candle and a tree candle sit in a holiday pine gift bag. A red mug sits on the table with a white orchid. Pine needles are tossed around as decoration.

They are handmade, sourced with care, and dishwasher and microwave safe. A percentage of all Danica profits is donated to Education without Borders, a Canadian non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities for disadvantaged and at-risk children in South Africa and Canada.

Holiday Candles from Sunbeam Candles

Sunbeam candles come in a variety of festive, decorative shapes with a focus on sustainability. All Sunbeam candles are hand-crafted, incorporate natural and wholesome ingredients, are made with 100% renewable energy, and use carbon neutral shipping. Let your holidays burn bright with their pine cones, trees, and seasonal designs.

For the Foodie

San Juan Island Sea Salt Popcorn Blend

San Juan Island Sea Salt’s Popcorn Blend offers a nutty, cheesy, and delicious accompaniment to more than just popcorn. Some of our favorite uses are on pasta, avocado toast, and eggs. Unique and tasty, San Juan Island Sea Salt is made from solar-evaporated sea salt from the San Juan Islands.

Gilbert Cellars 2018 Left Bank Red Wine

For the wine aficionados in your life, the Yakima-based Gilbert Cellars Left Bank Red Wine scores 90 points and comes gift wrapped. It is a full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère with notes of black currant and plum. It is a balanced wine for holiday meals, appetizers, and makes a thoughtful gift for your host.

Dark Chocolate Coffee Bark from Chocolate Necessities

The pacific northwest is known for its coffee consumption and what better gift than coffee and chocolate? Local chocolatier, Chocolate Necessities, make a holiday bark with a Northwest twist — coffee! Chocolate Necessities Dark Chocolate Coffee Bark covers the chocolate and coffee loves alike.

A bottle of wine and some chocolate bark sit in a Hanukkah gift bag.

For the Spa Lover

Studio Oh! Cosmetic bag

Studio Oh!’s portable, water-resistant cosmetic bags highlight unique and original artwork with witty, whimsical designs. The Co-op sells bags in a variety of shapes and designs that are fully lined with secure metal zippers. These bags are fun for all ages and while technically a cosmetic bag, work well for many purposes.

Samish Bay Soaps

Locally made Samish Bay Soaps are individually gift-wrapped in winter flannel or shaped as snowflakes without the wrapping. They come in a variety of seasonal fragrances; perfect for stocking stuffers. Samish Bay Soaps are made simply, using only pure essential oils and herbs. Their products are environmentally friendly, cruelty free, and free from chemical fragrances and colorants. Every batch is created, cut, and packaged by hand in Bellingham.

Island Thyme Moisturizers

Cold weather, travel, and frequent hand washing can leave your hands dry and your face in need of extra attention. Island Thyme lavender rose cream is a deep moisturizer for both your body and face. The 2 ounce glass jars are TSA compliant and at the top of everyone’s gift list. Island Thyme products are botanically-based, made in small batches on their farm and apothecary on San Juan Island.

Moon Valley Organics Lip Balms

The Co-op sells Whatcom County-based Moon Valley Organics lip balms in gift ready packs and individually. These balms make great gifts for anyone who spends time outdoors and needs extra lip protection.

Moon Valley Organics follows the highest organic standards with a mission to protect pollinators. Help the bees while treating your friends and family to lip balms in a variety of healing essences.

Badger Aromatherapy Travel Kit

Experience all the necessary aromatherapy balms to get you through the holidays in one convenient travel kit. The travel kit features five essential oil profiles carefully formulated to refresh, de-stress, and inspire. Badger aromatherapy is certified organic and cruelty free.

For Everyone

Co-op Gift Cards

A Co-op gift card is the quintessential gift for the person who has everything. Stop by the service desk at either store and pick out a gift card in any amount. We have a wide selection of cards to drop your gift card into. We can also do large quantities of gift cards to cover your employees, service providers, or any group that you may need to purchase for.

Maggie’s Organics Snuggle Socks

Soft, comfortable, washable organic merino wool. This is a gift for anyone experiencing the Pacific Northwest winters. Help them keep cozy with socks produced by humanely-raised sheep and skilled workers. These comfortable socks are ethical and sustainable, as well as made in the USA.

Watercolor paper, socks, and a puzzle sit by some twinkle lights on a wooden table.

Eeboo Deluxe Watercolor Paper

This high-quality, Italian watercolor paper is the perfect canvas for your watercolor art. The extra thick and absorbent paper has a natural pH, is chlorine-free, and completely recyclable and biodegradable. The paper books are glue bound for easy removal of the pages that makes painting your masterpiece easy and portable.

Puzzles from eeboo

Woman-owned eeboo makes high-quality, beautiful puzzles, games, and activities that reflect family, community, and inclusion. The 36-piece mini puzzle is a favorite for stocking stuffers or traveling. Wanting more of a challenge? We have puzzles with up to 100 pieces that feature equally beautiful scenes.

All of the gifts sit on a table with wrapping paper and pine needles in the sunlight.

A Visit To Tortillas Con Madre

We had the chance to celebrate Cinco de Mayo early this year by visiting one of our favorite locally-owned businesses: Tortillas Con Madre!

Just a few years ago, the Community Food Co-op was Lupita Nava's first vendor. After spending many years working for the school district in Lynden, Lupita decided it was time for a change. In 2017, with the encouragement of her family, Lupita created a very small tortilla factory out of her garage in Lynden, Washington.

She took a sample of her product and visited Co-op Grocery Category Manager, Michael Elkins. After trying the tortillas for himself, Michael told Lupita that whenever she had the capacity to sell to the Co-op, we'd welcome her—and her excellent tortillas—gladly.

Now, not only do we sell Tortillas Con Madre tortillas on our shelves, but we exclusively use Tortillas Con Madre in our deli. We're proud to say that your wraps and burritos are made with organic tortillas from a local Mexican-owned, female-owned business.

Although Tortillas Con Madre's reach has extended far beyond Co-op doors, we're glad to say the Co-op will always be home to Lupita.

reusable mesh grocery sack full of local grocery products Tortillas Con Madre Pangea ferments salsa mama

Make Black Bean Quesadillas using local ingredients:

1 pack Tortillas Con Madre tortillas
1 block Greenbank Farms cheddar
1 jar Pangea Ferments jalapeños
16oz can of Field Day organic black beans
2 tbsp Steensma Creamery plain skyr (in place of sour cream)
Optional: Limes, avocado or additional veggies as you see fit.

Make Holiday Cocktails Using Local Ingredients

Follow along with Chuckanut Bay Distillery tasting room manager Kirsten to learn how to make two festive cocktails with some of our favorite local ingredients! Special beverages are an excellent way to elevate your holiday. When you make the cocktails below, you can feel good about supporting the small, local businesses that keep our community unique and thriving. Find everything you need to make these delicious drinks at the Co-op!

Make a "Naughty Nog"

This two ingredient cocktail couldn't be easier! Garnish with fresh nutmeg to elevate your drink.

Shopping List: Naughty Nog

Make a "Cascadia Daily"

This cocktail only requires four ingredients and it's filled with gut-healthy probiotics!

Shopping List: Cascadia Daily

Shrub Farm Ginger and Apple Shrub
Chuckanut Bay Distillery Slow Crafted Bourbon Whiskey
Topo Chico or other sparkling water
Lime

Learning to Make Mocktails

With fewer people drinking alcohol and dry January around the corner, it’s time to freshen up your mocktail skills! The Community Food Co-op has some recipes, tips, and tricks for even the most novel of mocktail creators. Mocktails Made from Scratch 1. We’re celebrating citrus season with this grapefruit and [...]

Celebrating Red Wine Day with some Co-op Favorites

August 28 is Red Wine Day! There's no better way to celebrate than with a good meal and a gorgeous wine to pair. Not sure where to begin in the vast red wine aisle? We've got you covered. Below are three late-summer recommendations from Tim, our wine expert. We have [...]

Co-op Welcomes Leif’s Tea: Probiotics Have Never Been So Delicious

Leif’s Tea uses produce and juice from the Co-op to create delightful jun beverages that are now sold in our stores. About Leif’s Tea “Bee free, bee strong. Live free, live long.” That is exactly what Leif’s Tea is promoting in their organic and delicious jun. All of their teas […]