BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – By stepping foot into the Hela Provisions storefront on Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham, customers are bombarded with an array of locally sourced products and ingredients all curated by one person.

For Anna Adams, knowing which products are the best for her customers comes secondhand after almost 20 years in the food service industry.

Originally from Michigan, Adams moved to Bellingham to pursue an education. Following her time at Fairhaven College, she worked a range of jobs before co-founding Old World Deli in downtown Bellingham in 2007. Adams left the business in 2021 and opened her own, calling it Hela Provisions.

But while she was at Old World Deli, Adams’ “hobby focus” was on the market section of the business.

“I’ve been sourcing these things for almost 20 years at this point,” Adams said. “People walk in and say, ‘Oh my God, how do you find all this stuff?’ and it’s like well, I’ve been curating it for a really long time.”

Photo by Sam Kristofferson

Adams has focused on finding smaller brands that aren’t in major grocery stores and intentionally brings in items from other women owned businesses.

Each product that is sold at Hela Provisions is curated by Adams. Local and good quality are the first things she looks for in a product, followed by making sure the packaging is appealing to customers. Currently, Hela Provisions sells different local products like Marie’s Bees honey, San Juan Island Sea Salt, Tea Dive, and more hyperlocal to regional items.

Photo by Sam Kristofferson

Adams has also focused on curating a mix of non-alcoholic beverage options as that demographic continues to grow.

Photo by Sam Kristofferson

Aside from the hard and soft goods Adams has to offer, she also has a menu of charcuterie and sandwiches to choose from. The bread used for the sandwiches comes from Burlington-based bakery Water Tank Bakery.

One item Adams showed extra pride about were the charcuterie boards. She mentioned how customers have commented on her ability to curate quality meats and cheeses without excess filler, and how the experience you have when you’re enjoying food with others is so important.

“You know, when I make charcuterie platters, it’s making art to me,” Adams said.

Coming up on April 30, Hela Provisions is hosting an author talk with renowned author and chef Renee Erickson. Attendees can expect a talk by Chef Erickson and a taste of something from her new book.

For more information about Hela Provisions, visit their website at helaprovisions.com.

We are Whatcom is a weekly column featuring Whatcom County residents making a positive impact on the community. To submit a Whatcom County resident to be featured, click here.Â