Popular Saint John, N.B., farmers’ market returns for 15th season

The popular Queen Square farmers' market kicked off its 15th season Sunday in Saint John, N.B.

From Mother’s Day to Thanksgiving every year, Queen Square in Saint John, N.B., becomes a hub for fresh food, local artwork and live music.

It’s a trend that began 14 years ago and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.

“The first season was one day in 2011,” said organizer Liam Freill, who originally started with the event as a fish monger. “The second year was every other week. The third year it became every week.”

The Queen Square Farmers’ Market is returning for its 15th season in uptown Saint John on Sunday. It often features a bevy of local produce and animal products, craft work and performances from New Brunswick musicians.

Freill notes that, aside from the historic City Market, the uptown part of Saint John generally lacks easy access to fresh groceries.

“One day a week, we can provide the uptown core a fresh and local market where they can buy groceries for a week,” he said. “That’s very important to us.

“What you see being sold there from 60-to-65 vendors a week, they either grew it, cooked it or created it.”

Freill thinks the farmers’ market also represents the growing cultural diversity in the Port City.

“There’s street food, there’s folk art,” he said. “They’re getting their culture out to the community.”

The market was one of the few events in Saint John that was able to remain open during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Freill said their ability to “reinvent the wheel” during that time helped them grow in the city.

“I’m not shocked the idea (of the market) succeeded,” he said. “I’m surprised that the community wants it to grow bigger and better, year in and year out.

“They support every single vendor from Mother’s Day to Thanksgiving. That’s what just amazes us.”

The Queen Square Farmers’ Market runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday from now until October.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.