Snail of Approval Markets and Shops

Street Cheese is a cheese shop serving the Greater Seattle area offering a curated selection of local, domestic, and imported sustainable cheeses, charcuterie, and accompaniments. Founders and career cheesemongers Tailor Kowis and Courtney Johnson are passionate about sharing the message that good cheese is for everyone. Their mission is rooted in supporting local cheesemakers and farmers by helping to bring their products to market and into the community. 

Courtney and Tailor have very high standards and source only cheeses made using traditional and sustainable practices. The strong relationships they’ve built with dairies and producers not only ensure better transparency and traceability, but also bring well-deserved recognition to their work. They celebrate the seasonality of cheesemaking – right now, for example, is the ideal time to enjoy fresh local goat and sheep cheeses. 

In addition to offering a full line of cheeses, charcuterie and accompaniments in their retail store, Courtney and Tailor host pairing classes, guided tastings, and both pop-up and private events.

See the list of Ark of Taste cheeses at Street Cheese …

Contact Information:
• Courtney Johnson and Tailor Kowis
• 3007 Beacon Ave South . Seattle, WA 98144
• Website: streetcheeseseattle.com

The Olympia Food Co-op has been a pillar of the Olympia community for decades and has long been committed to local farms, fair labor practices, food waste reduction, and community engagement. The produce department contracts with local farmers for an entire season, guaranteeing a market for a single product. They partner closely with the deli team to use excess products and turn them into prepared foods for shoppers. 

They reduce food waste by encouraging bulk food and produce purchases, using “first-in, first-out” principles, and offering “eat today” produce at drastically reduced prices. They donate large amounts of almost-past food to their local food bank. They also adhere to a long list of fair labor practices, including 30 hours full-time work weeks, interviewing and hiring using trained DEI practices, and offering robust health coverage.

Contact Information:
• Max Crabapple
• 921 Rogers St NW . Olympia, WA 98502
• 3111 Pacific Ave SE . Olympia, WA 98501
• Website: olympiafood.coop

Farm + Flourish is an all-local grocery store located in downtown Centralia. Alliyah Perry opened the store in late 2023 because she wanted to create a place where producers could be paid fairly and where consumers could find local products all gathered into one space, a place to make local foods accessible, for everybody, year-round.

The store carries hundreds of local products, from honey, eggs, and produce to locally produced and packaged goods, like spice mixes and sauces. The producers are the stars here. All of their products are clearly labeled—so you know who you’re buying from—and artfully displayed.

Contact Information:
• Alliyah Perry
• 202 S Tower Ave, Centralia, WA, 98531
• Website: farmnflourish.com

Grist Urban Stone Mill Flour Shoppe & Grainery was opened in 2024 to provide community members with flours that are milled from Washington-grown wheat, mindfully sourced products, and opportunities to learn about grains and sourdough. Jay travels the state himself to pick up grains for the mill, including einkorn, spelt, sonora, red fife, rye, and other regional and organic grains.

The grainery is dedicated to curbing waste through bulk packaging and reusable containers and cuts byproducts out almost completely by not milling or selling all-purpose flour. Jay educates people through classes in his demonstration kitchen on sourdough technique and gives away sourdough starter for free to encourage people to bake at home.

Contact Info:
• Jay Ryan
• 216 N Tower Ave, Centralia, WA 98531
• Facebook: facebook.com/p/Grist-61554743758761