The Orange Walk District has a significant Mennonite population, primarily settled in communities around Shipyard and Blue Creek to the northwest of town. The Mennonites arrived in Belize from Mexico and Canada beginning in the 1950s, seeking land where they could maintain their traditional religious and agricultural way of life. They have become major contributors to Belize's food supply, producing dairy products, poultry, furniture, and vegetables sold throughout the country.
Visiting the communities is not a formal tourist activity, but the roadside stalls selling Mennonite cheese, produce, and handmade goods are easy to find along the Northern Highway and the roads heading west from Orange Walk. The workshops where furniture is made are visible from the road in some communities. The contrast between the Old Colony Mennonites (who maintain horse-drawn vehicles and traditional dress) and the more progressive congregations is striking and visible within a few kilometres.