Halifax Seed Company

Halifax Seed Company is a Canadian seed, gardening-supplies, and horticultural-equipment business headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Established on the Halifax waterfront in 1866, it is described as Canada's oldest continuously operating family-owned seed company. Its business has developed from a traditional seed merchant into a supplier serving home gardeners, landscapers, commercial growers, golf-course operators, and other professional horticultural customers. The company's history is closely connected with Halifax's commercial development. After the Halifax Explosion in 1917, Halifax Seed moved from the waterfront to Granville Street. Ownership changed hands several times during the early twentieth century: D. G. Stewart acquired the business in 1919, and Fred Tregunno purchased it in 1925. Under Tregunno, the company expanded its Halifax operations through the 1928 acquisition of the Colley building on Granville Street. Tregunno's sons Warren and Paul inherited the business after his death in 1960, continuing its family-enterprise structure. Halifax Seed also expanded beyond Halifax by acquiring the Carter Seed Company of Charlottetown in 1948. The company later relocated its Halifax operations to Kane Street after the development of the Historic Properties area in the late 1960s. Its New Brunswick presence dates to 1957, when it established a Saint John operation after the National Packing Company stopped selling its products there. The Saint John branch subsequently moved to Rothesay Avenue in 1982, combining wholesale and retail functions. Leadership passed to the next generation in the 1980s when Tim Tregunno, Warren Tregunno's son, became an owner. After Tim was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, the company created an advisory board in 2010 to support succession planning. Following his death in 2012, ownership was held by his wife Nancy and Mike Barclay, who had been a part-owner since 1983. By 2018, the business was being operated by Emily Tregunno and her sister Alison, extending the family's involvement into another generation. The company also received a Family Enterprise of the Year Award from the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise. Halifax Seed's assortment includes vegetable, flower, lawn, and other horticultural seeds; gardening and landscaping materials; professional growing equipment; greenhouse supplies; and golf-course supplies. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the company temporarily closed its retail store and emphasized online sales. As demand from commercial greenhouse operators declined, it placed greater emphasis on smaller greenhouse kits for household customers. In 2025, Halifax Seed worked with Acadia University's K. C. Irving Environmental Sciences Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens on a limited sale of seeds for two native plants, Cutleaf Coneflower and Joe-Pye Weed, with part of the proceeds supporting student research. The company operates retail locations in Halifax and Saint John and has also served customers through wholesale and online channels.

Halifax Seed Company began in 1866 on Halifax's waterfront. Its early history reflects both the continuity of a family enterprise and the changing geography of Halifax commerce. Following the Halifax Explosion in 1917, the business moved to Granville Street. In 1919, D. G. Stewart purchased the company from J. Frank Crowe. Fred Tregunno acquired it in 1925 and expanded the Halifax operation in 1928 by purchasing the Colley building on Granville Street. The Tregunno family's ownership became established over the following decades. In 1948, Halifax Seed broadened its regional footprint by acquiring the Carter Seed Company in Charlottetown. Fred Tregunno remained involved until his death in 1960, after which his sons Warren and Paul took over the company. During the late 1960s, the Halifax operation moved to Kane Street as the Historic Properties area was established. The company expanded its presence in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1957. Before establishing its own location, Halifax Seed sold products through the National Packing Company on Union Street. When that company ended its operations, Halifax Seed opened a presence on Main Street. In 1982, it moved to a larger wholesale and retail site on Rothesay Avenue; the opening marked twenty-five years of activity in Saint John. In the 1980s, Tim Tregunno, Warren Tregunno's son, became an owner. His cancer diagnosis in 2005 prompted the company to think formally about succession, and an advisory board was created in 2010. Tim died on February 25, 2012, aged 55. After his death, his wife Nancy and Mike Barclay, a part-owner since 1983, held ownership interests. By 2018, Emily Tregunno and Alison Tregunno were operating the company, preserving its multigenerational family character. Halifax Seed was also recognized with a Family Enterprise of the Year Award from the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise. Historically, Halifax Seed operated as a seed merchant, but its activities have broadened substantially. The company supplies home gardeners, landscapers, commercial growers, and golf-course operators with seeds, gardening and landscaping materials, greenhouse products, equipment, and related supplies. It has maintained both retail and wholesale functions, with locations in Halifax and Saint John. The COVID-19 pandemic produced a significant channel shift. Halifax Seed closed its retail store in 2020 and emphasized online ordering. At the same time, reduced demand from commercial greenhouse customers encouraged the company to sell more small greenhouse kits to homeowners. In 2025, the company collaborated with Acadia University's environmental-science and botanical-garden organizations on a limited seed offering for two native plants. The initiative linked commercial seed sales with native-plant preservation and student research funding.

1. 2025Native-plant preservation partnership

   Halifax Seed partnered with Acadia University organizations on a limited seed sale supporting native-plant preservation and student research.

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2. 2020Retail and product-channel adaptation during COVID-19

   The company closed its retail store temporarily, emphasized online sales, and increased its focus on small greenhouse kits for homeowners.

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3. 2012Transition after Tim Tregunno's death

   After Tim Tregunno died, ownership passed to his wife Nancy and Mike Barclay.

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4. 2010Succession advisory board formed

   An advisory board was established as part of succession planning following Tim Tregunno's cancer diagnosis.

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5. 1982Saint John branch moves to Rothesay Avenue

   The Saint John operation moved to a new wholesale and retail site on Rothesay Avenue.

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6. 1957Saint John operation established

   Halifax Seed established its own retail and wholesale presence in Saint John, New Brunswick.

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7. 1948Acquisition of Carter Seed Company

   The company acquired the Carter Seed Company of Charlottetown, extending its regional operations.

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8. 1928Expansion on Granville Street

   Halifax Seed expanded by purchasing the Colley building on Granville Street.

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9. 1925Acquisition by Fred Tregunno

   Fred Tregunno acquired the company and began the family's long-term ownership period.

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10. 1919Acquisition by D. G. Stewart

    D. G. Stewart purchased Halifax Seed from J. Frank Crowe.

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11. 1917Relocation after the Halifax Explosion

    The company moved from the waterfront to Granville Street following the Halifax Explosion.

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12. 1866Company founded in Halifax

    Halifax Seed Company was established on the Halifax waterfront, beginning its long-running seed and horticultural-supplies business.

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A long-established Canadian family seed merchant combining retail gardening products with professional horticultural, landscaping, greenhouse, and golf-course supplies.

• Horticultural seedsSeeds1866

  The company's core assortment consists of seeds for vegetables, flowers, lawns, and other horticultural uses. These products serve household gardeners as well as professional growers and reflect Halifax Seed's historic identity as a specialist seed merchant.

• Gardening and landscaping suppliesGarden supplies

  Halifax Seed sells materials and supplies used in home gardening, landscaping, and grounds maintenance. The category extends the business beyond seeds into the broader set of products required to establish and maintain planted areas.

• Greenhouse products and equipmentHorticultural equipment

  The company supplies equipment for professional growers and also sells smaller greenhouse kits intended for homeowners. During the pandemic, the household greenhouse segment became more important as commercial greenhouse demand weakened.

• Golf-course suppliesProfessional grounds-care supplies

  Halifax Seed's professional assortment includes supplies for golf-course operations, adding a specialized grounds-management customer segment to its retail, wholesale, and grower businesses.

• 2025Native-plant preservation seed sale

  Canada

  Halifax Seed worked with the K. C. Irving Environmental Sciences Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens at Acadia University to offer seeds for Cutleaf Coneflower and Joe-Pye Weed. The limited-time initiative connected sales with conservation and university research.

  Outcome. One dollar from each sale was designated to support student research at the environmental sciences centre.

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• 2025Native-plant partnership and limited product launchStrategy

  The company partnered with Acadia University organizations seeking to preserve native plants and support environmental-science research.

  What changed. Halifax Seed offered limited-time seed products for Cutleaf Coneflower and Joe-Pye Weed and directed one dollar per sale toward student research.

  Aftermath. The initiative aligned the company's seed business with native-plant conservation and university research support.

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• 2020Shift toward online sales during COVID-19Strategy

  Public-health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic led the company to close its retail store, while commercial greenhouse operators reduced demand.

  What changed. Halifax Seed emphasized online sales and expanded its focus on small greenhouse kits for household customers.

  Aftermath. The change broadened the company's focus toward home gardening and consumer greenhouse products during the disruption.

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• 2025Halifax Seed partners with Acadia University on native-plant seed sales

  The company partnered with the K. C. Irving Environmental Sciences Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens to offer seeds for Cutleaf Coneflower and Joe-Pye Weed, with one dollar from each sale supporting student research.

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• 2020Halifax Seed shifts toward online sales during the COVID-19 pandemic

  The company closed its retail store during the pandemic and shifted emphasis to online sales. It also responded to weaker commercial greenhouse demand by selling more small greenhouse kits to homeowners.

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• 2013Halifax Seed referenced in a diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks

  CBC News reported that a released diplomatic cable described Halifax Seed as an established and reputable firm that could be a worthwhile trading partner for U.S. companies.

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1. Halifax Seed Company