by Justin DeMeyere, Food Production Manager

I often feel incredibly lucky to live in the Pacific Northwest, especially in Skagit Valley. As a young man, I transplanted from Eastern Washington to Bellingham in the summer of 2008. On my way north, I buzzed right past Mount Vernon. Fool that I was, I glanced at the redbrick façade of the Co-op and thought, “That seems like a boring city.”

Coming from a farming community without Co-ops, I had no awareness of the cooperative spirit or its value. Looking back, my ignorance isn’t surprising. Food co-ops represent only a small fraction of national grocery stores, and most are far smaller than the average supermarket.

As “small fish in a big pond,” co-ops face challenges the conventional giants rarely worry about: pricing perceptions, limited buying power, communicating core values, and reaching everyday shoppers. We don’t have skyscrapers full of accountants crunching numbers for us or marketing executives pouring over consumer data trends. Instead, we’re a diverse network of minimally connected stores, each with its own scale and focus. Some lean toward conventional supermarket offerings, others specialize in baked goods or grab-and-go salads, and none rival the modern supermarket in scale and ubiquitous coverage. Many are no bigger than your backyard or living room.

We are tasked with understanding our consumers at the grassroots level, a challenge that is both difficult and infinitely rewarding. As a local business, we are aware of one important fact which often escapes the notice of the supermarket giants: in Skagit County, our local economy draws its vitality from the hard work of family-owned farms.

When I moved to Mount Vernon in the fall of 2020, I had no idea I was making a fortunate and life-enriching choice. The very city I once overlooked revealed itself as a vibrant hub of local and hyperlocal (meaning from Skagit County) food. A stroll through our produce section mirrors the bounty of any local farmer’s market or roadside stand. Skagit is blessed with a multitude of family owned farms, and our Co-op benefits immensely from this abundance.

In the Deli, one of our goals is to expand our local and organic offerings. Our kitchen leadership team is working closely with the produce department to incorporate even more regional ingredients into our dishes.

Current Highlights Include:

Leeks from Ralph’s Greenhouse, Mount Vernon
Yukon Gold & Red Potatoes from First Cut Farm, Mount Vernon
Red Beets from Well Fed Farm, Bow
Kale from Griffin Creek Farm, Carnation
Red Cabbage from Carpanito Brothers Farm, Kent
Green Peppers from Riverland Family Farm, Corvallis, OR
Red Onions from Basin Gold Co-op, a collective of growers and distributors in WA + OR

Seasonal offerings like hyperlocal organic romaine, green leaf lettuce and organic zucchini join the lineup in late spring, summer, and early fall. In colder months, we supplement with produce from California family farms—still far closer than the sources many conventional grocers rely on.

This commitment not only supports local agriculture but also strengthens our pride in scratch-made recipes and fosters collaboration between the deli and produce teams. None of it would be possible without the tireless efforts of our produce crew, who champion the Deli as a place to showcase local harvests. When we keep it local, we cut down on carbon emissions from transport and production, and we often save on ingredient costs, making us more affordable while returning money to the local economy that sustains us.

As a homeowner in Skagit County—and a transplant from a very different farming community—I take special pride in offering something unique to Valley shoppers: Deli items crafted with local and hyperlocal ingredients year-round. And we’re not stopping there! By working with partners like The Food Hub, Dairy Valley, and Organically Grown Company, we’re finding new ways to bring even more of the Pacific Northwest’s bounty to your table.

I’d love it if you'd try our locally inspired offerings and share your thoughts. I hope every bite, in its own unique way, helps you celebrate this extraordinary place we call home.

Strengthening Our Deli Through Locally Sourced Produce