Pamplin Community Market is a 501c3 non-profit, staffed by volunteers, whose mission is to support the physical and social health of our area. Our long-term vision is to make local fresh produce available for our rural economically diverse population and low-cost social activities including fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, live music, and health-related workshops. Presently the local produce market is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The market accepts cash, credit cards, EBT, Market Fresh Senior program, and Virginia Fresh Match for SNAP recipients.
The market building is owned by the non-profit and will be used to benefit the community as long as the building stands. When you donate to the non-profit you can be assured that all of these funds are reinvested directly into the community. We operate with an all-volunteer board that is not compensated in any way and whose goal is to build stronger community ties.
Our next big project is a small commercial kitchen that will enable us to offer seasonal cooking demonstrations and classes and serve prepared vegetables for young families with a time crunch and our population that might have limited physical capabilities in preparing a meal. This would also allow us to use the natural ebbs and flows of produce efficiently.
The next big programming phase of the market will focus on other aspects of rural well-being in which the community expresses interest, using aspects of the asset-based community development model. Suggestions so far include a chair yoga class, live music, a mother’s coffee time with childcare, a widow’s group, and a space for home-schooled events. These projects would be driven by the talent in the local community and would have a community advocate as a leader, using the market building and support from the non-profit.