Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market preparing move to new location

This July, it will be taking over a portion of Pavillion 23, formerly known as the Cunard Centre

CITYnews halifax \ Ryan Bellefontaine

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The Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market will be on the move again this year, but it’s not going far.

Last year, the market left its decade-long home to make way for a collaborative innovation lab for the transportation industry called The PIER at the Seaport.

After spending just over a year at Pavillion 22, in July it will once again shift down to take over a portion of Pavillion 23, formerly known as the Cunard Centre.

“Our initial plan was that when cruise operations came back, the farmers’ market would move out into the parking lot area between the months of April and November when the cruise ships were here,” said Sarah Rector, the team lead for the market.

But a better venue came along last September when it was announced RCR Hospitality Group would no longer be operating the Cunard Centre. The market now plans to take over around 18,000 square feet of Pavillion 23’s west end.

“The opportunity came up to have an inside space all year round. We took that opportunity to the vendors, and they were very interested,” she said.

There’s nothing quite like an outdoor farmers’ market during a city’s summer—That’s why the option will remain available to vendors.

“We will still have vendor tables outside and tents if they want that. If there’s a vendor that wants to be outside, we definitely can accommodate that,” Rector said.

The local aspect of the farmers’ market is a vital motivator.

“All we ever want and hope for the community to do is support our local vendors,” she said.

As the pandemic winds down and summer approaches, the market is becoming livelier by the day.

“We have seen more local customers within the Halifax area, and the returning of our other customers that couldn’t quite make it out during the peak of COVID times,” Rector said.

The market is very active, but it is always looking to attract new vendors.

“It creates a vibrancy down at the Seaport, especially with some inside and outside. We’re always looking for farmers, but also floral vendors and things like that,” Rector said.

The Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market offers a unique Atlantic Canadian experience of being on the waterfront.

“The atmosphere down here when there are lots of people and there are lots of things to do, it’s just something that’s unmatched,” Rector said.