The Antigonish Farmers’ Market is marking a major milestone in 2026, celebrating over 30 years of connecting local producers with the community. Since its humble beginnings with just four vendors in the early 1990s, the market has expanded into a bustling hub at 20 Exhibition Lane, now hosting more than 50 vendors every week.
The market has become a significant economic engine for the region, attracting more than 70,000 visitors each year. According to the Antigonish Farmers’ Market, the site generates an estimated annual economic impact of $1.6 million for Antigonish and its surrounding communities. This success has allowed the venue to serve as an incubator for local entrepreneurs, helping businesses such as Peace by Chocolate, Haveracres Maple Farm, Cornect Family Farm, and Steinhart Distillery grow from market stalls into established operations.
The market moved into its permanent, year-round facility in 2020 after a major fundraising effort supported by the local community, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Municipality of the County of Antigonish, and the Town of Antigonish. The new space includes a commercial kitchen, which has provided new opportunities for local value-added product development. The facility proved essential during the pandemic, when the Antigonish Farmers’ Market Association successfully pivoted to an online ordering system to keep local food accessible during public health restrictions.
The market remains true to its roots, with some of its original participants still involved today. Founders Beverly MacLean, Anne Purcell, Annie MacPherson, and Barb Taylor of Glenhill Berry Farm helped launch the market in the early 1990s, and some of these original vendors continue to sell their goods at the stalls today. Residents can visit the market on Saturdays from 8:30 AM to 1 PM between May and December, or from 10 AM to 1 PM during the winter months of January through April.
