Halifax Farmers' Market, Halifax

The Halifax Farmers' Market holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating farmers' market in North America, with its origins tracing back to 1750. Established by Royal Proclamation just a year after the founding of Halifax, the market was initially designated a site at what is now the Bank of Montreal building. For its first fifty years, it functioned as a meat and cattle market, supplying Halifax with fresh produce and livestock from Acadian farms in the Annapolis Valley and other local sources.

Throughout its history, the market has relocated multiple times, each move reflecting the evolving needs of the city and its vendors. One of its most notable homes was Keith’s Brewery Building on Lower Water Street, where it operated for many years. In 1848, following Halifax’s incorporation as a city, the original market property was officially conveyed to the city for public use, ensuring its place as a community institution.

A significant shift occurred in 2010 when the majority of the market’s cooperative members moved to a newly constructed space at the Halifax Seaport. This relocation gave rise to the Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market, while a small number of vendors chose to remain at the former site, rebranding themselves as the Historic Farmers' Market. Despite the division, both markets maintain their dedication to local commerce and the celebration of fresh, regional products.

Today, the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market continues to thrive, offering a vibrant selection of goods from farmers, artisans, and food vendors every weekend, year-round. Marking 265 years of operation in 2015, the market remains an enduring symbol of Halifax’s deep-rooted agricultural and economic traditions, connecting the past with the present in a dynamic marketplace by the sea.