Our new round up at the registers is for the Olympia Film Society– presenting film, music, and art in the historic Capitol Theater.

Find out more at: https://olympiafilmsociety.org/

The Olympia Film Society (OFS) was formed in 1980 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3).   OFS began leasing the Capitol Theater in 1990 and purchased the Capitol Theater in 2010. The 762-seat theater, built in 1924 and an Olympia landmark, has been in continuous use as a theater. In the minds of many patrons, the Capitol Theater is an inextricable part of OFS’ identity.

MISSION
To present film, music, and art that engages our community, encourages volunteerism and ensures preservation of the Capitol Theater.

We’re now accepting applications to run for our Board of Directors! We will be accepting applications through September 15th and elections will run October 15th- November 15th.

To learn more visit our run for the board page.

We now have black chickpeas at both stores!

Since hummus is such a perfect summery food, we wanted to share a recipe for black hummus. A wonderful way to eat lots of fresh veggies and isn’t it gorgeous, too? Please try it out and let us know your thoughts! Black chickpea hummus

The Cornucopia Institute shares information about who owns organic food companies and we’re passing it on for educational purposes.

Who owns organic? >

It’s hot out there! Otter Pop here knows what to do… Do you?

We stand by him and also recommend watermelon! Really any old way, but if you need some help ideas-wise, here’s a super easy recipe for you to turn that beautiful organic watermelon into a delicious no sugar watermelon sorbet. Thanks to staff member John for sharing this adorable image of his dog with us. What inspiration!

Quick & Easy Watermelon Sorbet

Ingredients

• 1 watermelon (the ratios are not exact and you can decide how big)
• Lime juice (for a small watermelon plan to use maybe 1/2 to 1 lime’s worth of juice)
• Optional: a few leaves of fresh basil

Preparation

1. Before you begin, you’ll need to prepare the watermelon by freezing it. Just cut it into cubes and freeze, preferably overnight but a few hours might also do the trick. While you could just pop a the bowl of watermelon chunks into the freezer, they may freeze into a block. To make it easier, either separate them periodically throughout the freezing process or freeze them in a single layer on a tray.
2. Once your watermelon is frozen, the rest is easy peasy! Add the watermelon chunks to the bowl of a food processor, and add a little bit of lime juice. Add juice only 1 tsp at a time. Begin to process the watermelon with the lime, checking on the texture as you go.
3. To get the texture smooth and correct it’s best to add the liquid just little by little.  You may not need any liquid to get the right texture, actually, but the addition of a liquid does help the process go more smoothly and can also help improve the final texture of the sorbet. Also the lime is a lovely compliment.
4. If the mixture is dry, add some more lime juice and continue to process it. The lime juice will also add a mild acidity that balances the sweetness of the watermelon. So, periodically tasting the sorbet as you make it will help you determine if you want to add more juice at any given point. You can also add a touch of water instead if you’re on the edge of too tart.

For a fun flavor twist try adding a fresh basil leaf or two at the beginning… It adds a unique and refreshing touch!

  Our board meets tomorrow at 6 pm at our downtown office. For more info and meeting agenda check out our board of directors page. 

Have you noticed our new and improved website? We are so happy to finally share it with you after many months of work! It features local talent and was built by Olympia web developer Mandy Himel of Brighter Colors. It also features an array of beautiful food art by Isabelle O’Connor and a few pieces by a second talented local artist named Aaron Zonka.

In keeping with our vision of supporting our own community wherever possible we opted for hyper local relationships. All of these folks are members of our own co-op and we couldn’t be happier with the results of choosing to collaborate with and invest in our own community!

What do you think about the new flow and look? We’d love to hear from you at: website@olympiafood.coop

Isabelle O’Connor is an artist and printmaker based in Olympia, Washington. She works in pen and ink, watercolor, and traditional relief printmaking to create imagery rooted in place, memory, and personal mythology.

With a focus on slow, tactile processes, Isabelle’s work explores the everyday as sacred. She creates custom illustrations and prints for small businesses and personal commissions. Isabelle also works as a tattoo artist.

You can find more of her work at isabelleoconnor.com and on Instagram @sensitive.chaos.tattoo.

Aaron is an Artist, illustrator and cartoonist whose personal work centers on exploration and moments of discovery. He’s been in love with drawing—and the worlds it can unlock—since childhood and he tries to bring that spirit into everything he creates.

Artist statement: At its core, my work is about the simple, undeniable love of drawing. It’s where I feel the most present, the most engaged, and the most at home in my own mind. The act of creating—whether through drawing or painting—is both a process of discovery and a form of self-soothing, a way to focus my thoughts and find meaning in the moment.

I often take a meandering path in my work, following ideas as they unfold, embracing the unexpected. Creativity, to me, is more than just a practice, it’s a way of navigating the world. It gives me purpose, clarity, and a way to make sense of the intangible. More than anything, I create because I love it, and because it continues to teach me, challenge me, and keep me curious

Website: aaronzonka.com

Instagram: @aaonzonka    –    Facebook: @azonka

We’ll be closing one hour early at 8pm for inventory on Monday June 30th at the Eastside and Wednesday June 2nd at the Westside. Thanks for your understanding!

Our June meeting for the Board of Directors is cancelled. The board will meet again July 17th

Dearest Co-op Shoppers,
We want to let you know about a temporary disruption affecting our product availability.
On June 7th, UNFI our primary distributor, experienced a cybersecurity incident that has created a nationwide outage. This has impacted their ability to make deliveries to our stores, as well as stores nationwide.

As a result you may notice that our shelves are a bit scarce.We’re actively working to source
products through alternate and local distributors. We hope that UNFI will resume deliveries
soon, though we do not when service will resume and when supply levels will stabilize. We
expect it to take a few weeks to return to normal. Our Produce department is fully stocked and
not affected by the outage.

To help insure that everyone in the community has access to essential items:
We kindly are asking shoppers to avoid over purchasing during this time. We are
asking shoppers to limit their purchases to no more than two of any single item.

This does not include Produce purchases.
We are not taking special orders or case orders for UNFI products until July 1st.
We are not holding products for shoppers at this time.
We appreciate your cooperation, patience and understanding as we navigate this incredible
challenge together as a community. We will continue to keep you informed with any updates.
We thank you for your continued support of the Co-op.

In Collective Cooperation,

Olympia Food Co-op

Our summer class schedule is live!

Check it out by clicking here.

Currently and into this upcoming week we may have lower than usual stock on our shelves in many departments due to a major distributor issue. We’re so sorry for the inconvenience and will do our best to supplement missing items through other distributors!

This shortage is also affecting Fred Meyer, Safeway and Whole Foods.

Our summer classes are live and we have an amazing line up. Take a look here and don’t hesitate to sign up as they fill up quickly. 

Come check them out!

We’re excited to share that your curbside shopping experience will improve in 2 important ways starting Friday May 2nd.

1. You can pick up your order anytime during open hours after you receive the text or email message saying “Your order is ready for pick up”. No more time slots to choose from!
2. When you come to get it, you will still go to the large warehouse door on the South side of the store. However, instead of honking, you will call that store at (360) 956-3870 and a staff person will come out and assist you.

You will still need to place your order by 4pm for a guaranteed pick up anytime after 11am the following day, however, in many cases it will be ready for you in the evening of the same day you placed your order!

For more information on our curbside program click here.

We will be closed on Thursday May 1st. Each year both our locations close on May day in solidarity with workers everywhere.

May Day, how we Got the 8-Hour Workday

The only day the Olympia Food Co-op is currently closed is May 1st. We close to celebrate May
Day, also known as Labour Day or International Workers’ Day.

The Industrial Revolution brought the rise to the factory system, but left out the thought of
safety and employee rights. Blue collar workers began fighting for their rights for equitable
working conditions as a response to the unreasonable demands being put on them day in and
day out.

Starting at the end of April 1886 in Australia, the movement for an 8-hour workday picked up
momentum. By May 1 st , over 300,000 workers had walked out of their jobs.
Days later, the fight for equitable working conditions became violent. It wasn’t until 1868
though, that the 8-hour work week was finally realized. The downside to this movement?
Unions became more docile as a result and Anarchists started being seen by the public in a
dimmed light.

Marches, parades, speeches, picnics and simply enjoying a day off are common ways people
from over 66 countries celebrate May Day today.
We hope you enjoy your May Day this year and take a moment to rest and revel in your
accomplishments! See you again on May 2nd .

We will be closed on Thursday May 1st. Each year both our locations close on May day in solidarity with workers everywhere.

Join ASHHO and the Olympia Food Co-op on March 22nd for a transformative experience with Dr. Bre! Discover accessible, meaningful ways to prioritize your mental health.

Spring is in the air, we’ve got seed potatoes available at both stores.

Spring classes are live and filling fast. Take a look.

New to the east side bulk section, whole Bird’s Eye and Chipotle peppers.