Farmers Markets of the Halifax Area
Written and Photos by Shea McInnis
Prior to the rise of the supermarket, farmers markets played a pivotal role in the food system from as early as 1730 in North America. However, the concept of the supermarket exploded in popularity across the continent starting in the early 1900s and expanded to become a ubiquitous part of the lives of millions of North Americans. Despite how convenient and common supermarkets may be, farmers markets continue to thrive. Many shoppers continue to support farmers markets due to their community aspect. This also allows for local farmers to remove the supermarket from the equation and benefit by selling products directly to consumers. Another important reason shoppers continue returning to the farmers market is the reduced carbon emissions associated with minimized shipping and packaging that is required to transport produce from the farm to the local market. Additionally, the quality and variety of the products available at farmers markets beats that of products available at a supermarket. For these reasons it is lucky that Halifax and the surrounding area has such a high number of farmers markets available. In downtown Halifax, three farmers markets in particular stand out because they are within walking distance (or a short ride on the ferry) from each other, as well as for the quality of vendors that they bring together every weekend.
Halifax Brewery Farmers Market
1496 Lower Water Street
Community Market: Saturdays 8am-1pm
Neighbourhood Goods General Store: Wednesday-Friday, 10 am-2 pm
Generic ATM available on site
The Halifax Brewery Farmers Market is one of the newer farmers markets in Halifax, but despite that is often known to some as the “Old Market” due to its location. Hosted within the 200-year-old Alexander Keith’s Brewery, much of the market space feels remarkably European despite being located in Halifax. Though appearing small, the Brewery Market hosts 30 regular vendors. Along with the traditional produce vendors, the market has a variety of other vendors selling goods ranging from fermented food to handmade sausages. In addition to the host of goods to take home, the market also features a number of prepared food options, making the market a great one-stop-shop for some shopping, and for a bite to eat.
In addition to the normal market hours on Saturday, the Brewery Market also runs the Neighbourhood Goods General Store, which offers a selection of products from vendors that are available for purchase from Wednesday to Friday. This is incredibly convenient, especially due to concerns with the rising prevalence of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia, as it allows for those who may be wary of the Saturday crowd to arrange for curbside pickup of their typical market goods.
1209 Marginal Road
Saturdays: 8 am – 2 pm
Sundays: 11 am – 3 pm
Generic ATM available on site
The Halifax Seaport Market is likely the most well-known farmers market in Halifax, and is certainly the oldest – the Halifax Farmers Market was founded in 1750, and is the longest continuously-running market in North America. While this market has been found in many different locations throughout its 270-year history, the market found a permanent home in 2010 in a visually striking and green-designed building located at the end of the Halifax Waterfront. Easily the biggest market on this list, approximately 70 vendors can be found at the Seaport Market. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the vendors are spread between Saturday and Sunday in order to accommodate proper spacing between vendors.
Because it has its own dedicated space, the Seaport Market is able to expand its operation past the typical Saturday morning market hours. Not only does the market open on Sunday, it also operates in a limited fashion during the afternoon from Wednesday to Friday. While not all of the vendors are present during the week, many of the vendors open during that time also sell prepared food. This provides those who happen to find themselves near the Seaport Market during the week with an interesting array of choices for a quick lunch.
Alderney Landing Farmers Market
2 Ochterloney Street
Saturdays: 8 am – 1 pm
Generic ATM available on site
Located on a scenic ferry ride away from Halifax, the Alderney Landing Farmers Market is the largest farmers market on the Dartmouth side of the Halifax Harbour, with 33 market vendors selling on Saturdays from 8 am – 1 pm, and 6 permanent vendors operating all week long. The Alderney Landing Farmers Market is located within the titularAlderney Landing, a bright and airy multi-use building located in the heart of downtown Dartmouth. The Alderney Market is unique among markets as not only does it offer curbside pickup of many of its vendors’ goods, but it also offers delivery to Dartmouth, Cole Harbour, Waverly, and the Halifax Peninsula. This delivery is available on the Wednesday following the typical Saturday market hours. Due to the number of ways to engage with the market without physically attending, the Alderney Market may be the most accessible farmers market in the HRM.