Nova Scotia’s Halifax Farmers’ Market has been selling greens since 1750—but this year it’s actually becoming green. North America’s oldest farmer’s market is getting new digs this summer, and while it’s not the first time the venerable market’s moved, it might be the last.

In its current downtown location inside the stone walls of Keith’s Brewery Building on Lower Water Street, it’s been the go-to place for everything from organic tomatoes and sustainably harvested sea scallops to handmade wooden knitting needles and beeswax hand cream for the past 27 years. But come July, it’ll relocate to a new, high-tech, waterfront home—with longer opening hours.

Renamed the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market, it’ll be an ecological and cultural showpiece on Pier 20 alongside the Cruise Pavilion on Halifax Harbour.

A joint venture between the federal, provincial and municipal governments—and and local folks who have bought into the Farmers' Market Investment Cooperative—the new community-based market will consume 85% less energy and 50% less water than an R-2000 building.

Building a greener market is, according to the designers, not unlike growing a head of lettuce: it takes a little rain, a little sun and a little water—combined with a whole lot of architectural ingenuity such as wind turbines, solar panels, rainwater collection, and a green roof…