A New Look Farmers' Market

Dateline: Cattaraugus County, wester New York state

   Something wonderful has happened to our local town, Olean. The farmers' market, which used to be a few stalls in the mall car park, always worrying about the weather, has a new building right in the centre of town.

It's on the lines of those old market halls in Europe, with the open sides. And it's been positively buzzing

All kinds of new stalls, selling everything from  local goldenrod honey to Italian bread to lotions and potions...

 ...plus the old favourites, like Stayer's Greenhouse. Amazing how well hibiscus grows in western New York. And their New York peaches are to drool for.

Hordes of customers - and vendors - having a great time and doing a spot of celebrity-watching.  That's Charlie, the famous rescue Yorkie, all the way from Manhattan (see him on Instagram  @charlie_barkie )  with his agent, Molly and to the right, an old friend of the blog, John Policastro of Flanigan Farm fame. I snagged a few of his excellent pork chops and local Polish sausages (well this is America.)

And there was live music too. I got the feeling the new Farmers' Market has made a real difference to Saturday mornings. Almost everyone shows up there, meeting friends, catching up with gossip, strolling, having a coffee. The best idea this town has had in a long time.