Who We Are

We are a mission-driven market on wheels, connecting communities through affordable, high-quality food. We believe everyone deserves access to fresh, healthy produce and welcoming spaces where they can shop with dignity and choice.

Through community markets, seniors' mini markets, bulk deliveries, and partnerships, we make healthy food more accessible while fostering connection, belonging, and community well-being. More than a food program, the Mobile Food Market creates opportunities for people to come together around good food and stronger communities.

The Mobile Food Market is for anyone who wants to…

Stretch their dollars

Access centrally located food close to home

Make personal food choices

Connect with their local community

Our Why

Food insecurity impacts more than 1 in 4 Nova Scotians.

“Food insecurity” represents a continuum of experiences where factors like finances and geography influence the choices, quantities, and quality of someone’s diet. For many households, food insecurity can look like insufficient nutrition, skipped meals, smaller portions, periods of hunger, or neglecting other necessities to access food.

Most people who experience food insecurity do not visit food banks. In some rural areas, food banks are not geographically accessible. In other areas, people who have limited funds for food might instead choose to purchase less food, buy food of poor quality or nutrition, or sacrifice other necessities first.

Food insecurity gets in the way of someone living a healthy, thriving life. At a community-level it impacts our healthcare, education, economics, and social spaces.

Where We Fit

To transform food insecurity in Nova Scotia, we must all work together. The Mobile Food Market is one piece, of many important contributions, in this puzzle of change.

We create opportunities to access affordable and healthy food in dignified ways. We are not a grocery store, and we are not a food bank — we fill the important middle space, offering reliable access to fresh food while helping ease the pressure on emergency food programs. Our approach empowers communities to make their own food choices, promoting independence, health, and resilience.

“Thank you for coming to North End Dartmouth. I’ve been finding it so hard to work veggies into the meals that I make for my family because of soaring prices at the grocery stores. This is much needed and greatly appreciated."

— Market Customer

Our History

Since January 2015, we’ve been collaborating with community stakeholders and partners to tackle food insecurity in Halifax Regional Municipality, where rates remain the highest in Canada. Through extensive community engagement, we connected with local leaders and partners to design Halifax’s first Mobile Food Market, a solution that brings affordable, healthy food directly to communities in need.

The program began as a 21-week pilot, inspired by successful models from other Canadian cities. Our first market-on-wheels were with Halifax Transit buses. Over nearly a decade, the Mobile Food Market has grown significantly — navigating challenges such as a global pandemic, rising inflation, and record-high food insecurity — while remaining committed to its mission.

Today, the Mobile Food Market:

  • Operates 5 community markets each week

  • Maintains a permanent operational space in Dartmouth

  • Partners with over 35 community organizations

  • Serves thousands of families each week

Through these markets, we aim to reduce food insecurity, build community resilience, and provide hope for families across HRM and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs


about shopping at markets

  • The Mobile Food Market is for anyone looking to stretch their food budget and access fresh, affordable food. We welcome everyone to shop at our markets.

    Our markets are intentionally located in communities where barriers to food access are greater and food insecurity rates are higher. By welcoming all shoppers, we help reduce stigma, create vibrant community spaces, and support a model that keeps fresh food affordable and accessible for everyone.

    We believe everyone deserves dignified access to healthy food, regardless of their circumstances.

  • No. Our markets are open to everyone and no registration is required.

  • No. You do not need to provide proof of income or any other documentation to shop at our markets.

  • Markets are located in communities throughout Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and operate on recurring days and times.

    Some locations operate outdoors during warmer months and move indoors during colder weather or poor weather conditions. 

    Visit our Community Markets page for current locations, schedules, and updates.

  • The Fairview market operates outdoors during the warmer months in Titus Smith Memorial Park and moves indoors to the community room at Centennial Arena during colder weather and poor weather conditions. Because the timing can vary from year to year, we recommend checking our Community Markets page or social media channels for the latest location information.


  • We source high quality products from a combination of local farms, producers, wholesalers, distributors, and community partners. These relationships help us maintain a reliable supply of fresh produce and other items while keeping prices as affordable as possible.

    Some of our partners have included organizations such as Keddy Nursery, Konrads Specialty Foods, COBS Bread, and other local suppliers and distributors.

  • Yes. Whenever possible and when products are in season, we prioritize sourcing food from local farms and producers.

    Supporting local agriculture helps strengthen Nova Scotia's food system while providing customers with fresh, high-quality food.

  • No. We do not offer home delivery services.

  • Yes! Gift cards can be purchased at any Mobile Food Market location or by contacting us directly.

FAQs


about getting involved

  • We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities with different tasks and time commitments.

    Visit our Volunteer page  to learn more and submit an application. Once your application has been received, a team member will contact you with next steps.

  • We love working with organizations that share our values and commitment to food access and community well-being.

    Please contact operations@mobilefoodmarket.ca to learn more.


  • Donations can be made through CanadaHelps, thanks to our partnership with the Public Good Society of Dartmouth.

    One-time and monthly donations are accepted through a variety of payment methods.

    Other ways to support MFM include:

    • Volunteering

    • In-kind donations

    • Sponsorships

    • Community partnerships

    • Sharing and promoting our work

    For more information, contact operations@mobilefoodmarket.ca

  • Bulk Food Delivery is available exclusively to nonprofit organizations, registered charities, schools, community groups, and other organizations that incorporate healthy food into their programming.

    If you are interested in becoming a bulk food partner, please contact us at operations@mobilefoodmarket.ca to discuss eligibility and availability.

FAQs


about the organization

  • We are funded through a combination of  provincial and municipal government funding, grants, donations, sponsorships, community partnerships, and produce sales.

    Government funding currently provides the largest portion of our operating budget and plays a critical role in helping us deliver affordable, healthy food to the communities we serve. We also receive support from grants, sponsors, donors, and community partners who help strengthen and sustain our programs.

    Many people assume that because we sell produce, the market makes a large profit. In reality, produce sales cover only a portion of our operating costs. We work closely with suppliers, community partners, funders, and supporters to help reduce costs and keep prices affordable. This collaborative approach allows us to increase access to fresh food while maintaining program sustainability.

    To ensure the long-term sustainability of our organization, we are actively working to diversify our revenue streams. Donations, sponsorships, grants, and produce sales help reduce reliance on any single funding source and allow us to expand our impact.

    Every contribution makes a difference. Whether someone shops at the market, makes a donation, provides sponsorship, or supports us through a grant, their investment helps improve access to nutritious food and strengthens food security in the communities we serve.

    We are committed to transparency and accountability and regularly share information about our programs, impact, and funding so our supporters can see how their contributions help make our work possible.

  • We're always interested in exploring opportunities to increase food access in new communities.

    To express interest in bringing a market to your area, please contact operations@mobilefoodmarket.ca. Our team will review the request and explore potential opportunities.

  • Market locations are selected based on community need and factors that influence access to healthy food and overall well-being, often referred to as the social determinants of health. These may include food insecurity, income levels, transportation access, the availability of affordable food, and other barriers that affect a community's ability to access nutritious food. (Learn more).

    We also consider:

    • Community feedback and interest

    • Requests from residents, organizations, and local leaders

    • Population density

    • Transportation access

    • Community partnerships

    • Operational feasibility

    • Long-term sustainability

    We do not establish markets without community consultation. Many of our locations begin through conversations with residents, community organizations, and local stakeholders who identify a need for improved access to fresh, affordable food. We work collaboratively with communities to understand local priorities, assess readiness, and determine whether a Mobile Food Market would be a good fit.

    Our goal is to develop markets that are community-informed, community-supported, and sustainable, creating meaningful and lasting impact where it is needed most.

  • We generally do not accept individual food donations.

    However, we welcome conversations with farmers, producers, distributors, and food-sector partners interested in donating food or developing partnerships that support affordable food access. Any donated products must meet food safety requirements and align with our operational capacity.