When the Mineral Farmers’ Market opens for the summer season on Saturday, May 4, 2024, it will mark the first event at the new Whitlock Family Park.

For the last 15 years, the Whitlock family has granted the use of their land along Louisa Avenue to the Mineral Farmer’s Market. Since then, the market has grown from 10 vendors to a shopper’s delight of 30 local, Virginia grown, vendors.

During a special Town Council meeting last August, the Whitlock family presented the deed to Mayor Ed Jarvis.

“We are pleased to be working with you to create this permanent park for the Town which will perpetuate the wonderful Farmers’ Market and allow for many new possibilities,” said John Whitlock, son of W.W. Whitlock. Whitlock family members, John Whitlock and sister, Jane Whitlock Sisk, and cousins, Judge Susan Whitlock and Doug Whitlock, serve together as Trustees of their Aunt Gaynelle Whitlock’s Trust.
“It is a huge relief and a very generous gift to the Town,” said Becky Vigon, who has managed the Mineral Farmers’ Market since it started in 2009. “We are so grateful to the Whitlock family, and to the Town of Mineral for its continued support.”

The Town cuts the grass, takes away the trash, and installed a water spigot for use by the Farmers’ Market. “Part of the fun of our farmers’ market is getting to know who grows your food”, said Vigon. “It makes for a deeper appreciation of what we eat and how it gets to our plate.”

Being privately held, the Mineral Farmers’ Market relies on volunteers such as Vigon to keep it operating. School teachers Pete Coen, who teaches algebra at Louisa High School, and Jim Snider, a STEM teacher at Jouett Elementary, have been instrumental in their roles as volunteers. Some of the vendors who have been part of the Market for over 10 years include Pink House Farm from Mineral. Pink House Farm sells pasture raised, all natural meats and eggs. Looking for gourmet mushrooms? Long time vendor North Side Growers (Louisa) grows a variety along with their produce, plants, and seasoning. Laurel Hill Farm has been making the trip to Mineral from Westmoreland County every Saturday with their produce including peppers, cilantro and tomatillos.

Several years ago Vigon worked with the USDA and the Virginia Department of Agriculture to facilitate the acceptance of SNAP at the Market. The produce, meats, honey, baked goods, sauces, and vegetable seeds (and plants to grow food) are all eligible for SNAP/EBT. Grant money allows the Market to match SNAP funds for up to $30 a week.

“Our FreshMatch program has been wildly successful,” says Vigon. “We’ve been able to get more healthy food to our neighbors, and more money directly to the farmers that grow it. Buying locally and knowing that your food dollars stay right in your community…”

During the winter months, the Mineral Market operates at the VFW on Mineral Avenue in Mineral. They are open the first and third Saturdays of each month from 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon. On May 4, 2024, they return to the now Whitlock Family Park 81 Louisa Avenue, Mineral, VA to begin their 16th season.

Debbie Moon

Debbie Moon loves to help! A prominent magnet on her refrigerator reads, “Stop me before I volunteer again!” Regardless of the warning, Debbie has joined the Breeze as the Town of Mineral reporter. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® at Lake Anna, she helps families and their aging parents sell their home and the items they no longer need. She recently purchased a building in the Mineral Commercial District, to be the future home of her consignment store called “Full Moon Trading Company” to sell the items families and their aging parents no longer need. Debbie can be reached at 301-906-7770 or [email protected].