Update: After initial negotiations on Feb 3 led to Donald Trump delaying the imposition of tariffs for a month, the Cheeto-in-Charge announced they were back on the table earlier this week, taking effect on Tuesday, March 4.
In the wild weeks since convicted felon and US president Donald Trump first threatened a sweeping 25% tax on goods imported from Canada—prompting Canadian sports fans to boo the American anthem, and Ottawa to fight back with its own set of retaliatory tariffs, affecting an estimated $30 billion in US imports as of Feb 4 ranging from meats, vegetables and other groceries to clothing and household appliances—economists have, for once, uniformly agreed: Life is about to get more expensive on both sides of the border.
Trump’s tariffs—which the president has said are in response to fentanyl entering the US from Canada, but seem a lot like the precursor to his fantasy of Canada joining the US by economic coercion—have pundits warning of dire fiscal times ahead. In a blog post on Feb 2, BMO Financial Group’s chief economist, Douglas Porter, likened the president’s actions to a “hammer” that will “come down hard on Canada’s economy.” He added that our country’s economy would “face the risk of a modest recession” if the Canada-US trade war were to last a year, with Canada’s real GDP growth dropping “to roughly zero” in 2025.
When Trump fired the first trade war salvos back in February, Nova Scotia premier Tim Houston announced that the province would hit back on US tariffs by doubling the tolls for American commercial trucks driving through Cobequid Pass, taking all US alcohol off the shelves at the NSLC and by “look[ing] for opportunities to cancel existing contracts” with American companies, among other measures. In a statement, Houston said that Nova Scotia “must ramp up our focus on finding new markets here at home.”
Amid all of the political dick-swinging, the main questions on many Haligonians’ minds involve a more pressing matter: Just how expensive are groceries about to get? And how will we Nova Scotians survive a trade war when our two biggest grocers have a documented history of being dicks as well?
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That’s where The Coast’s map of local, independent grocers comes in. If you’re looking for ways to buy local and support your neighbours during these uncertain times, we’ve compiled a list of more than 100 independent grocers, farmers’ markets, delis, butchers and bakeries across the province. If you see a local grocer that’s missing from our list and belongs on it, let us know in the comments.
HALIFAX
2 Boy’s Smokehouse & Deli
984 Cole Harbour Road, Dartmouth
website
24 Carrots Bakery
3200 Kempt Road, Halifax
website
Afishionado Fishmongers
275 Rocky Lake Drive (Unit 9), Bedford
website
Al-Arz Traditional Market & Pita Bakery
19 Alma Crescent, Halifax
website
Al Hilal Meat Shop and Middle Eastern Cuisine
386 Herring Cove Road, Halifax
website
Annapolis Produce
3440 Dutch Village Road, Halifax
website
Arthur’s Urban Market
1591 Hollis Street, Halifax
website
Avery’s Farm Market
287 Cobequid Road, Lower Sackville
198 Beaver Bank Road, Beaver Bank
website
Bagel Montreal Style
135 Wyse Road, Dartmouth
website
Bahay Kubo: Filipino & Asian Grocery Store
Boss Plaza, Supreme Court, Halifax
website
Bedford Basin Farmers’ Market
397 Bedford Highway, Halifax
Big Ray Asian Store
14 Titus Street, Halifax
BIGS Brothers Indian Grocery Store
Boss Plaza, Supreme Court, Halifax
Birdies Bread Co.
380 Pleasant Street, Dartmouth
website
Bluenose Mini Mart
28 Titus Street, Halifax
Bombay Spices Dartmouth
530 Portland Street, Dartmouth
website
Brothers Meat & Delicatessen
2665 Agricola Street, Halifax
website
Ca-Hoa Grocery
5483 Victoria Road, Halifax
website
Cafe Aroma Latino
5780 North Street, Halifax
Café Goodluck
145 Portland Street, Dartmouth
website
Cavicchi’s Meats
5411 St. Margaret’s Bay Road, Upper Tantallon
website
Chater Meat Market
250 Wyse Road, Dartmouth
website
D & Jo’s Country Farm Market
501 Timberlea Village Parkway (Unit 300), Timberlea
website
Dave’s Fruit & Vegetable Market
322 Main Street, Dartmouth
website
Delish Fine Foods
5280 St. Margaret’s Bay Road, Upper Tantallon
website
East Coast Bakery
6257 Quinpool Road, Halifax
website
European Market / Yummy Deli
3651 Dutch Village Road, Halifax
website
Flenjor Foods
3460 Dutch Village Road, Halifax
31 Albro Lake Road, Dartmouth
website
Food & Nutrition ç¾é£çæ´»è¶
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6267 Quinpool Road, Halifax
3481 Dutch Village Road, Halifax
website
Gateway Meat Market
667 Main Street, Dartmouth
website
Halifax Brewery Market
1496 Lower Water Street, Halifax
website
The Grainery Food Co-op
2385 Agricola Street, Halifax
website
Green Valley Market
3466 Dutch Village Road, Halifax
Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market
961 Marginal Road, Halifax
website
Heiwa Oriental Market
7018 Chebucto Road, Halifax
Heppy’s Pie Lady
30 Herring Cove Road, Halifax
website
Hope Blooms
2346 Brunswick Street, Halifax
website
Hubbards Barn Association
#57 Highway, Nova Scotia Trunk 3, Hubbards
website
Hydrostone Groceteria
3220 Isleville Street, Halifax
Indian Groceries
2585 Robie Street, Halifax
website
Italian Market
6061 Young Street, Halifax
website
JJ Korean Mart
2326 Gottingen Street, Halifax
website
Khan’s HFX
5 Hartlen Avenue, Halifax
website
Kingswood Market
1210 Hammonds Plains Road, Hammonds Plains
website
LF Bakery
2063 Gottingen Street, Halifax
website
Local Source Market
2790 Windsor Street, Halifax
website
M&Y Asian Market
1544 Granville Street, Halifax
6238 Quinpool Road, Halifax
Mabel’s Farm Market
3303 Prospect Road, Whites Lake
MediTerra Kitchen
111 Cobequid Road Unit 7, Lower Sackville
website
Mid-East Food Centre
2595 Agricola Street, Halifax
Mrs. P’s Homestyle Bakery
336 Herring Cove Road, Halifax
Musquodoboit Harbour Farmers’ Market
67 Park Road, Musquodoboit Harbour
website
Namaste Indian Grocery
23 Gaston Road, Dartmouth
website
Noggins on Coburg
6124 Coburg Road, Halifax
website
Noggins @ Santé Centre
50 Gary Martin Drive, Bedford
website
Norbert’s Good Food & Selwood Green Farm
1209 Marginal Road, Halifax
website
Novalea Farmers’ Market Cooperative
3540 Novalea Drive, Halifax
website
O’Bees Food Market
2 Ochterloney Street, Dartmouth
website
OCO Mart
6303 Quinpool Road, Halifax
Organic Earth Market
6487 Quinpool Road, Halifax
website
Osprey’s Roost Butchery & Provisions
5544 Kaye Street, Halifax
2100 Oxford Street, Halifax
website
Parce Corporation
10 Akerley Boulevard #9, Dartmouth
website
Sackville Farmers’ Market
650 Sackville Drive, Lower Sackville
website
Springhouse Market
2290 Gottingen Street, Halifax
website
Spryfield Farmers Market
173 Old Sambro Road, Halifax
website
Square Roots
5374 St. Margaret’s Bay Road, Upper Tantallon
website
Syrania Market – Halaal Butcher, Restaurant and Grocery
3600 Strawberry Hill Street, Halifax
The Vegetorium
2900 NS-2, Fall River
Tantallon Village Farmers’ Market
16 Sonnys Road, Upper Tantallon
website
Tian Phat Asian Grocery
209 Bedford Highway, Halifax
website
Top Fresh Market
1 Flamingo Drive, Halifax
website
Union Foodmart è¯è¯
195 Wyse Road, Dartmouth
website
Uprooted Market & Cafe
7992 Nova Scotia Trunk 7, Musquodoboit Harbour
website
Vessel Meats
6 Primrose Street, Dartmouth
website
Warehouse Market
2867 Isleville Street, Halifax
website
REST OF NOVA SCOTIA
Annapolis Royal Farmers’ & Traders’ Market
178 St George Street, Annapolis Royal
website
Antigonish Farmers’ Market
20 Exhibition Lane, Antigonish
website
Argyle Farmers’ Market
6182 Nova Scotia Trunk 3, Tusket
Avon Community Farmers’ Market
Victoria Park, 78 Thomas Street, Windsor
website
Bridgewater Farmers’ Market
123 Empire Street, Bridgewater
website
Cape Breton Farmers’ Market
105 Regent Street, North Sydney
website
Chester Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market
37 Smith Road, Chester
website
Clarence Country Market
3337 Clarence Road, Lawrencetown
D’Aubin Family Meats
607 Granville Street, Bridgetown
website
Dexter’s Butcher Block
233 Main Street, Tatamagouche
website
Four Seasons Farm
8244 NS-215, Maitland
website
Fresh Cuts Market
1101 King Street, Bridgewater
website
Jamieson’s General Store
71 Front Street, Pictou
44 Creamery Rd, Tatamagouche
Kentville Farmers’ Market
Centre Square, Kentville
website
Kingston Farmers’ Market Society
831 Main Street, Kingston
website
Kissing Bridge Sweets and Meats
302 Kissing Bridge Road, Lunenburg
website
Logan’s Daily Catch
2578 Westville Road, New Glasgow
website
Lunenburg Farmers’ Market
15 Green Street, Lunenburg
website
Mabou Farmers’ Market
186 Mabou Harbour Road, Mabou
website
Masstown Market
10622, NS-2, Debert
website
Merigomish Schoolhouse Marketplace
New Glasgow Farmers’ Market
261 Glasgow Street, New Glasgow
website
Noggins Corner Farm Market
10009 Nova Scotia Trunk 1, Wolfville
website
North Mountain United Tapestry
3201 Long Point Road, Berwick
website
Oulton Farms
4956 Chester Road, Windsor
Peasant’s Pantry
4491 NS-12, New Ross
website
Privateer Farmers’ Market
Centennial Park, 38 Henry Hensey Drive, Liverpool
Pugwash Farmers’ Market
10222 Durham Street, Pugwash
website
Shelburne Guild Hall Market
11 Maiden Lane, Shelburne
website
Tatamagouche Farmers’ Market
41 Creamery Road, Tatamagouche
website
The New Digby Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market
Admiral’s Walk, Water Street, Digby
The Pork Shop
3412 326 Hwy, Tatamagouche
The Red Onion Market
253 St George Street, Annapolis Royal
website
Truro Farmers’ Marker Cooperative
15 Young Street, Truro
website
Whistleberry Market & Eatery
1115 Pleasant Valley Road, Alma
website
Withrow’s Farm Centre
206 Nova Scotia Trunk 1, Mount Uniacke
website
Wolfville Farmers’ Market and WFM2Go
24 Elm Avenue, Wolfville
website
Yarmouth Farmers’ Market
15 Hawthorne Street, Yarmouth
website
—With files from Matt Stickland
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This article appears in Feb 1-28, 2025.
Withrow’s has a butcher shop, run by Bill Withrow, and an adjacent farm market, run by Brian Withrow, in Belnan, about 5 minutes from exit 8 of Hwy 102 in Elmsdale. There is also a garden store at this location.
Sadly, the Bedford Basin Farmers’ Market no longer exists.
I didn’t see the Forum Market listed though! It’s small but reliably good.
In Pugwash on the North Shore, there is a farmer’s market with locally grown food between May 17-late Oct at 10222 Durham St. At the same location is the Cardamom Pod Café which is also a bakery and that runs yearlong. Sheryl’s Bakery is down the street a bit and runs yearlong. Alder Meadow Farmstand is next to Sheryl’s and they are open May-Dec.
Ebbett’s market in Tatamagouche
Luminate (https://luminateco.ca/about-us/) in Larry Uteck area has amazing (Canadian) organic produce!!
Also, happy to see LF Bakery on the list. If you haven’t tried their croissants yet, do yourself a favour this Valentine’s and go buy yourself (or a loved one) a piece of heaven. -Dina
Canning Village Meat Market is an awesome spot in the valley.
Elderkin’s, Stirling, and Hennigars are missing from Greenwich. And does Avery’s count? There are several of those in the valley.
Judi Mart at 900 Windmill Rd #107A, Dartmouth has a great variety of groceries sourced from the Middle East. Pickles, jams, spices. snacks and a lot more.
Little Dorset Farm store front on hwy 224 in Middle Musquodoboit, and Snowy River Farm’s efforts would be a great addition to your list. Thanks for doing this. Let’s build on it!
https://www.snowyriverfarms.com/
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