Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market

Celebrating Canada 150

To celebrate Canada's 150th anniversary Orchard & Vine Magazine is highlighting our country's historic Farmers' Markets.

The Halifax Farmers’ Market was created by Royal Proclamation in June of 1750. The Governor and Council designated a site for the Market, which is the present day Bank of Montreal building. For 50 years this flesh, meat or cattle market, as it was known, sold produce as well as livestock delivered from Acadian farms in the Annapolis Valley and from local farm production.

In 1848 the City of Halifax was incorporated and the original City Charter conveyed the Country Market property to the city “for the public and common benefit and use of the City of Halifax according to the true interest and meaning of the original grant.”

The Market has operated in several locations across the city since its inception in 1750, but moved to the Halifax Seaport in 2010 where it is now known as the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market – the longest continuously running Market in North America and proudly hosting over 250 vendors!

The market has been in continuous operation for 266 years, marking its own anniversary on Oct. 17. The market actually opened just one year after the City of Halifax was established in 1769, and while the actual location has moved over the year, the market remains one of the country's most significant cultural heritage landmarks.