The Haliburton County Farmers’ Market traces its origin to a community meeting in February 2009. This meeting was initiated by the Local Food Coalition, an association of Haliburton residents advocating for increased availability of healthy locally produced food. From that meeting, a group of dedicated individuals – farmers, potential vendors, community activists, and consumers – identified a location and planned for the first market season the following summer.

The market has brought significant benefits to the community by supporting and nurturing a local food ecosystem. Since its founding, a central principle of the HCFMA has been to give Haliburton producers priority in vendor selection in recognition of the challenges faced by local agriculture. In so doing, the market has stimulated a modest increase in farming and homesteading – a notable achievement given the location of Haliburton on the Canadian Shield. It has also functioned as an incubator for small businesses. The market creates a job by employing a market manager and has contributed a desirable destination for tourists.

Above all, the market has become a fixture in the local culture and a highlight of many people’s Haliburton experience.