As food costs climb across the country, one Maritime business is stepping up to help Canadians grow their own way around rising grocery bills.
Emily Tregunno became CEO of Halifax Seed Company in 2023, making her and her sister, Ali, the fourth generation to lead the business.
Now in its 160th year, Halifax Seed — Canada’s oldest family-owned seed company — supplies seeds, plants, and gardening tools to customers across Atlantic Canada, with store locations in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Tregunno says, “We’re certainly seeing more people are turning towards gardening as a way to manage rising food costs but also feel more connected with their food. Our role at Halifax Seed is to make that accessible and successful, especially in Atlantic Canada.”
She says even a small garden can make a real difference in grocery bills over the summer months.
“It all depends on the scale that you’re able to do it. Maybe you have a small, raised bed in your backyard, and you can supplement all the herbs that you were purchasing at the grocery store with a small herb garden, or simply planting lettuce so you have fresh salads.”
Tregunno says people often start gardening to save money, but it quickly becomes something more.
“People really enjoy knowing where their food comes from and having a little bit more control over it. And once you taste a tomato fresh off the vine instead of a grocery store tomato, you just may never go back.”
One barrier families still face, she says, is the upfront cost of starting a garden.
“There can be a large initial expense to setting up a garden, depending on how you want to do it. So, you can invest in it, and what we’re seeing is a lot of people are starting small,” she explains.
Tregunno says staff focus on educating the community on building stronger, more sustainable gardens.
She says, “What’s really important to Halifax seed is sharing the knowledge. We focus a lot on giving people advice that actually works here in the Maritimes and spending time with customers, especially new gardeners.”
The company also donates to school programs and community groups, supporting food security for future generations.
“One of our staple products that we’ve carried over 160 years has been seeds. So, you know, everything from farmers growing peas and beans and beets way back in the 1800s through to now. We’re so proud to have been able to help support Atlantic Canadians as well as Canadians grow food for themselves.”
Tregunno adds, “It’s really about helping to educate gardeners in making sure they’re planting the right varieties in the right places, but also how they’re going to care for them to really get the best bang for buck.”
Earlier this month, Tregunno was joined by Secretary of State Wayne Long at Halifax Seed for an announcement on Canada’s grocery rebate.
Long says the government is rolling out $3.1 billion in immediate assistance to 12 million Canadians, including GST credit recipients — about 50,000 people in Nova Scotia. The top-up would provide up to $267 for a single person and up to $717 for a family of four.
He says businesses like Halifax Seed support home gardeners, farmers and food producers across Atlantic Canada, helping strengthen local food production and supply chains.
He says, “At a time when global uncertainty is putting pressure on food costs and supply chains around the world, places like this right here at Halifax Seed remind us of the importance of investing in Canadian production, supporting the people who grow our food and building a stronger, more self-reliant economy.”
As governments look to ease affordability pressures, businesses like Halifax Seed show how local solutions can help strengthen Canada’s food security.
