by Leigha Staffenhagen

As far as the four seasons go, it’s mostly impossible to beat a Skagit summer: backyard hangs with your favorite people, blissful dips in the Magic Skagit, and what feels like an endless number of sweet celebrations under the sun. Whether it’s a random Tuesday in our slice of paradise, an extra day off, or that glorious annual camping trip, these new items need to be on your next shopping list—all selected to keep you cool and contented wherever you’re headed.

Cool Down! Can’t-Miss Ice Cold Drinks

First things first: don’t forget to drink plenty of H2O! It’s going to be a hot-hot summer—it’s an El Niño year, and hydration will be key! With that out of the way, these new drinks will make it even easier to cool down when the temps go up. Find them all in the Deli drink cooler, and definitely add ice!

Infused Sparkling Waters

Recess Mood

Recess Mood Sparkling Waters are infused with magnesium and adaptogens to help you unwind during a particularly busy week, a long road trip with the kids, or once the campsite is finally ready. Enjoy them as-is or pair them with your favorite liquor (N/A or otherwise) for a mood-enhancing mocktail or cocktail that’ll keep you calm, cool, and collected. Give yourself a real-life recess with Strawberry Rose, Blood Orange, Grapefruit Tangerine, Peach Ginger, Black Cherry, or Raspberry Lemon.

Ginger Beer

Timber Ginger

Timber Ginger says it best: they make ginger beer for people who *really* like ginger. And they aren’t kidding—when I first tried this on a whim during lunch, I instantly felt my nose tingle and my face scrunch up because the ginger was a-kickin’. If that’s your kind of ginger beer, Timber Ginger is definitely worth the sip. Locally made in Seattle and brewed with just water, ginger, PNW fruit, lemon juice, sugar, and herbs, choose from The OG, Blackberry, or Lemon Strawberry. Available in single cans and 4-packs. Did someone say Moscow Mule…?

Premium Beverage Mixers

Portland Syrups

Cocktail, mocktail, or soda, these syrups are a mixologist’s dream. Crafted in PDX from 100% cane sugar, whole herbs, fruit purees, peppers, and spices, then steeped in giant stainless steel kettles, these syrups boast authentic flavors and elevate the everyday—just a splash will do! Choose from luxurious, unique flavors like Hibiscus Cardamom, Marionberry, Ginger, and Passionfruit Citrus. And if you’ve ever wondered why we’re always voted Best Gift Store, bring one of these to your next party and watch the host’s eyes light up. You’re welcome.

Vietnamese Coffee

Little Green Cyclo

When you need a jolt of caffeine on-the-go and don’t feel like a doppio, snag a Vietnamese coffee from the cold case! Women-founded and AAPI-owned, Little Green Cyclo started in San Francisco as one of the region’s first gourmet Vietnamese food trucks. Their ready-to-drink coffees are made from coffee beans directly sourced from small family farms in Vietnam’s Central Highlands and brewed the traditional phin way—slow-dripped for depth and balance. Caffeinate cooly with their Classic, Ube, Vegan Coconut Mocha, or Vegan Coconut Vietnamese coffees!

Fruited Electrolyte Refresher

Leisure Hydration

Getting enough water can be hard! So, if you’ve had an exceptionally hot, active day, Leisure Hydration drinks are a functional, natural, and delicious way to hydrate, without artificial colors, sweeteners, or flavors. Filled with 700mg of electrolytes, 73 trace minerals, and just 5g of sugar, meeting your daily water-mark is easy. Try Lemonade, Tropical Mango, or Wild Blueberry.

National Ice Cream Month

July is National Ice Cream Month! And as if you need an excuse to celebrate, we’ve refreshed our selection with brand new ice creams, popsicles, and other novelties to beat the heat for food-holiday’s sake all summer long.

Organic Ice Cream & Novelties

Alden’s Ice Cream

We all scream it: Alden’s Ice Cream has been a Co-op staple forever-ever! You can always find classic flavors like vanilla and strawberry, but we dare you to try their new Banana Cookie Crumble Ice Cream. A chilly, banana pudding, anyone? If you like to ‘scream without the spoon, we have new ice cream bars from Alden’s, in unique flavors, too! Try their Global Delight Flavor Duo: swicy (sweet + spicy) Mango Chamoy bars or Thai Tea Swirl bars, both made with organic ingredients. Or sandwich a treat in between this stop and the next with a Salted Caramel Mini Ice Cream Sammy Square.

Frozen Desserts

GoodPop

Nobody wants a vanilla summer—unless we’re talking ice cream—but these new flavors from GoodPop are definitely a departure from the norm! First up, Fruit Sours! Made from real fruit with no artificial dyes and no artificial flavors, these pops are sour candy-coated outside, with sweet fruit inside. Best enjoyed outside, inside, or riverside. You can’t go wrong with either flavor: Cherry & Melon or Green Apple & Lemonade—pucker up! Or, if you’re famous for dipping fries in your milkshake, you have to try GoodPop’s new Fudge n’ Vanilla French Fry Pops. Real, creamy ice cream is dipped in a chocolate shell loaded with crispy potato fries to create this one-of-a-kind hands-free treat. Might sound crazy… but it hits that salty-sweet craving perfectly.

On the Go Snacks

Hike, bike, hammock, or the daily drive home, no matter the reason, summer (and sanity) is all about the snacks. Here are some on-the-go, easy-to-eat snacks you should toss in your bag to keep the good times rollin’ this summer—a happy camper beats a hangry camper every time.

GF Veggie Chips

Root Foods

Veggie chips can get a bad rap, but when I tasted Root Foods at a recent staff meeting, I had half a mind to snag the whole bag and boogie back to my desk. Made of farm-fresh veggies that are simply hand-sliced, flash-crisped in avocado oil, and sprinkled with sea salt, Root Foods chips are vegan, Non-GMO Certified, and gluten-free. Enjoy them with your favorite Co-op dip—our Jalapeño Artichoke Dip would be delish! Choose from Tomato, Onion, Zucchini, and Six Mix (okra, zucchini, green bean, bell pepper, asparagus, broccoli).

Pickle Pouches

Britt’s Fermented Foods

Fermented in oak barrels on Whidbey Island, Britts’ Fermented Foods pickles are a favorite around here! And just in time for picnics, parks, and long parking lot ferry lines, we’ve brought you snack sizes of three different flavors: I.P.O. (that’s Initial Pickle Offering (full sour)), Peace (horseradish-y), and Spicy (you guessed it… spicy). Take anywhere, eat everywhere!

Gourmet Gummy Bears

Das Gummy

What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummi bear! Except these bears are no joke. Locally made in Enumclaw, Das Gummy bears come in yummy fresh picked fruit flavors like Blackcurrant, Pear, Grapefruit, and Passionfruit. A perfect sweet treat made to and from wherever your adventures take you. Sink your teeth into regular bears or sour vegan bears, both made without preservatives and 25% real fruit juice. Das seriously gud.

Carne Seca Mexican Beef Jerky

Vaquero Bandido

Gas station beef jerky is so last summer. This year, grab a bag, hit the road, and taste the difference. Translated literally to “dry meat”, or carne seca, these traditional Mexican marinated beef strips are slow-cooked at low temps for several hours with no sugar added, resulting in a jerky that’s tender and crispy, not chewy and unchewable. Vaquero Bandido is Hispanic- and Veteran-owned—choose from Original, Chile, Lemon, and Habanero.

Summer Lovin': New + Notable Products