Objective To investigate the contamination of Listeria in some foods from farm markets and to detect the virulence genes of Listeria monocytogenes in Minhang district of Shanghai. Methods Based on the national standard methods, Listeria in food was separated and biochemically identified by using CHROM agar color medium and API reagent strips. The virulence gene of hly, prfA, plcB, iap, inlA and actA were detect by PCR methods． Results There were 36 strains of Listeria isolated and identified from 320 samples, including 10 strains of Listeria monocytogenes, 23 strains of Listeria innocua and 3 strains of other Listeria． Excepting the absence of actA, virulence genes hly，prfA，plcB，iap，inlA were identified in all 10 strains of Listeria monocytogenes. Conclusion The contamination of Listeria is existed in foods from farm market in Minhang district of Shanghai. Supervision and management should be strengthened on raw meat and poultry, which were serious contaminated. The absence of virulence gene actA in all Listeria monocytogenes isolated from local food needs further study.