 Logo of the Halifax Seed Company | |
| Company type | Limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Gardening |
| Founded | 1866 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
Area served | Atlantic Canada |
Key people | Tregunno family |
| Products | Seeds, gardening and landscaping supplies |
Number of employees | 75 (2013) |
| Website | www |
The Halifax Seed Company is a Canadian company specializing in seeds and garden supplies. The company was founded in 1866 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is the oldest continuously operating family-owned seed company in Canada.
Halifax Seed was founded in 1866 on the Halifax Waterfront. [1] Following the Halifax Explosion in 1917, the company relocated to Granville Street. [1] [a] In 1919, the company was purchased from J. Frank Crowe by D. G. Stewart. [3] In 1925, Halifax Seed was purchased by Fred Tregunno, [4] and in 1928 the company expanded their operations with the purchase of the Colley building on Granville Street. [5] Tregunno owned the company up until his death in 1960, leaving the company to his sons Warren and Paul Tregunno. [1] In 1948, Halifax Seed purchased the Carter Seed Company based in Charlottetown. [6] The company's operations in Halifax were later relocated to Kane Street after the establishment of the Historic Properties in the late 1960s. [1]
Warren Tregunno's son Tim became owner of the company in the 1980s. [7] Tim was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, subsequently forming an advisory board in 2010 to plan for succession. [8] He died on 25 February 2012, at the age of 55. After he died, the company was owned by his wife Nancy and her brother Mike Barclay, who was part-owner of the company since 1983. [8]
In 2013, CBC News reported that Halifax Seed was the subject of a diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks in the Kissinger cables. The unclassified cable referred to Halifax Seed as a "well established, reputable firm. Should be worthwhile trading partner for U.S. companies". [9]
Halifax Seed closed their retail store during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and shifted to online sales. With decreased demand from commercial greenhouse operators, the company began selling more small greenhouse kits to homeowners. [10]
In 2025, Halifax Seed partnered with the K.C. Irving Environmental Sciences Centre and the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens at Acadia University to preserve two native plants: the Cutleaf Coneflower and the Joe-Pye Weed. The company offered seeds for the plants as a limited-time sale, with one dollar from each sale supporting student research at the environmental sciences centre. [11]
Halifax Seed is operated by Emily Tregunno and her sister Alison as of 2018, making it the oldest continuously operating family-owned seed company in Canada. The company received the Family Enterprise of the Year Award from the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise. [12]
Halifax Seed offers seeds, gardening and landscaping materials, golf course supplies, and equipment for professional growers. [8] The company employees 75 people as of 2013, [8] and has two retail locations: one in Halifax, and the other in Saint John, New Brunswick. [12]
The company opened their Saint John location in 1957. Before this, they sold their products through the National Packing Company on Union Street; after National Packing ceased operations, Halifax Seed established their presence in Saint John on Main Street. In 1982, Halifax Seed moved to a new 3,000 sq ft (280 m2) wholesale and retail location on Rothesay Avenue, with the grand opening marking 25 years of the company's presence in the city. [13]
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