BELLVILLE — Nearly a decade ago, Marc and Jocelin Whitaker took a leap of faith just weeks after their wedding.

They purchased a small building on State Route 13 in Bellville. The dream? To create something that lasts for both their family and community. That dream became Whitaker’s Natural Market, located at 7427 State Route 13.

Celebrating 10 years of Whitaker’s Natural Market

On Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Whitaker’s Natural Market will celebrate its 10-year anniversary.

Jocelin said they are excited to announce the celebration and all that will be offered to the community.

The day will feature vendor demos from both national and local companies, samples, gift bags for the first 50 customers filled with goodies from their brands and a special 10th anniversary cake.

Shoppers can also enjoy free product coupons for early purchases. The Grunt Grub food truck will be on-site from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Jocelin, a naturopathic doctor, will be available throughout the day to answer natural health questions.

“We are super excited to be celebrating our 10th anniversary at Whitaker’s Natural Market,” Jocelin said. “Having put all the years of hard work into the business, seeing the community support and pouring our love of caring for people into the business to be able to reach this milestone of 10 years is very rewarding. “

How Whitaker’s Natural Market began

Just two weeks before their wedding in 2015, the couple went to look at the building for purchase. However, Jocelin said they both ultimately knew they needed to focus on their wedding.

“If it was God’s will for us to have the building, He would keep it for us,” she said.

On the way home from their honeymoon they contacted the realtor to say they planned to make an offer within two days.

The following day, the owners mentioned they were considering giving the property back to its original owners since it had been bought through a land contract.

Once the realtor told them an offer was coming, they decided to wait. The sale was completed later that week, and the purchase was finalized in July.

The couple opened the business in October 2015, with their grand opening taking place that December.

The Whitaker’s path to natural healing

Marc grew up on his family’s 120-acre farm, where he helped raise Dexter beef cattle and organic crops and gained hands-on experience working in the family’s bulk food and health store.

Jocelin, who moved to Ohio from Florida in 2000, discovered her passion for natural healing early in life after overcoming chronic bronchitis with the help of herbs, when conventional medicine had fallen short.

“That experience sparked a lifelong dedication to holistic wellness,” she said.

She went on to earn degrees as a Doctor of Traditional Naturopathy, Doctor of Biblical Medicine and became a Certified Nutritional Counselor and Chaplain in Holistic Approaches.

Ohio does not license naturopathic doctors, meaning Jocelin is not a licensed medical doctor. However, she has received training and earned certifications to be recognized as an aromatherapist, Holistic Health Practitioner, Fertility Counselor and Advanced BioEnergetic Technician. She ultimately earned a Ph.D. in Natural Health.

Today, Jocelin said she formulates her own line of essential oils—sold in stores across Ohio—as well as practitioner-grade supplements available exclusively at Whitaker’s.

From the beginning, the Whitakers said they envisioned a welcoming place where families could find high-quality, natural products and genuine guidance.

“We want customers to feel like they’ve stepped into a friend’s home—somewhere comfortable, personal and full of care,” Jocelin said.

A season of challenges for the Whitaker’s

Their early years brought success but also deep challenges.

In 2017, during Jocelin’s pregnancy, she developed a severe case of HELLP Syndrome, a rare and life-threatening pregnancy complication that is often a variant of preeclampsia. Their daughter, Yalissa, was born at 27 weeks and spent four and a half months in the NICU.

“2016 had found us having events, classes, sales, and more as well as Jocelin working with clients providing one-on-one consultations,” she said. “All that had to be put on hold as we fought to survive as a family.”

With no other employees, Marc and Jocelin balanced the demands of running the store, caring for their newborn and relying on the help of Jocelin’s parents, Terry and Carol Boutet, to keep things afloat.

By 2019, Whitaker’s had grown enough to add staff, which allowed the family to expand operations onto their organic farm, Shomer Eretz Farm—Hebrew for “Guardian of the Land.”

There, they raise livestock, produce hay, manage gardens and operate a raw milk herd-share program.

Whitaker’s Natural Market today

Today, Whitaker’s Natural Market remains a family-run business offering a wide range of items: bulk foods, local meats and eggs, clean beauty products, organic animal feed, makeup that meets European purity standards, elderberry syrup and Jocelin’s essential oil and supplement lines.

The store also serves as an educational hub, hosting regular classes on natural health, nutrition and homesteading.

The Whitakers have weathered challenges including supply shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, but their commitment to their customers never wavered.

“We were stretched thin, but we made it through thanks to our community, our family and God’s grace,” Jocelin said.

(Photos of Whitaker’s Natural Market and the Whitaker family. Provided by Jocelin Whitaker.)