People make the difference – in life, at a farmers market, and in business.

If it weren't for the friendly tip from a wonderful woman at the Crocker Farm of Ashford booth at a recent Coventry Regional Farmers Market (CRFM), I probably would not have met Bassem Salahi of Lazizah Bakery and Market, Yantic, Connecticut. (She said, “Find and try the spinach puffs – they are wonderful and the owner of the booth is memorable.” She was right.)

Salahi was busy all day long with repeat customers, neighbors and the crowds at the market. Why?

Well, baked goods include a trademarked “chocklava” (and “coco-chocklava”) along with traditional Turkish (walnut, cinnamon, honey) or Greek (walnut, pistachios, almond, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and honey) baklava. The hummus and babaghannuj (both, all natural, no preservatives) drew steady repeat customers eager to nab some before it all disappeared.

The fresh and made-from-scratch offerings are served up with lively intelligent banter from Salahi. Topics range from keen observations about humans to world history and more than a few reasons to visit his location in Yantic (which is now earmarked for a future field trip).

When someone really likes people, it shows – and Salahi not only loves what he does, he entertains a steady stream of folks as they stroll by or stop to inhale tempting aromas. A regular at CRFM, he also can be found at Bozrah Farmers Market on Fridays since it began three years ago.

The Crocker Farm baby yellow squash (they also have zucchini with flowers) were parboiled with a touch of butter and a pinch of salt and made a memorable dinner with my mother, who is at a rehab center and misses her garden. (By the way, Crocker Farm is a also a regular vendor at Coventry market.)

On my drive home, the crunch of a spicy fresh radish from Highland Thistle Farm of Canterbury's booth kept hunger at bay, but the spinach puff proved too much temptation and was also consumed before the journey was over. Both were fresh and delicious.

Above, A boxer and owner shopping at Capa di Roma's booth that offers Italian sauces, olive oil, pasta.

Taste, Savor, Repeat: The spinach pie (spinach, onion, lemon juice, olive oil, pine nuts, spices in a light pastry) and spinach puff (a generous blend of spinach, feta cheese, garlic, touch of nutmeg in a puff) are absolutely delectable. To try another day? Soup of the day, grilled zucchini, garlic chicken, beef gyro, beef kabab lamb roll up, a mini chicken pie . . .

Find It: Lazizah Bakery and Market is at 125 Yantich Rd., Yantic, Conn., adjacent to the post office in the historic district; (860) 889-2542. Hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find the bakery/market on Facebook, linked here. Crocker Farm Ashford, Conn., also a regular at the Coventry Farmers Market, Sundays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Highland Thistle Farm is from Canterbury, also at CRFM. The Capaccio family run the Capa di Roma booth with award-winning Italian sauces, pastas, olive oil. They also own the Roma Restaurant in East Hartford.

Story and photos about a young knitter and Fran Larson of Blue Moon Woolworks – featured on Moo Dog Knits, on our community news network.

Editor's note: To suggest a farm market, country business, event or notable people, send us an e-mail, include your name and a contact number. As we visit markets and independent businesses around the state and region, a bonus is that we add a link for people and places we've mentioned. This can help spread the word so others can find these wonderful products, people and sites to savor and share – think of every dollar spent at a local market or independent business as fertilizer on the fields of your community – and the people who make it different.

Addendum: Our thanks to Coventry Regional Farmers Market (on Facebook) so we can identify Pam Nishball, wife of farmer Dave Crocker and sister of Alex Nishball who “brings his honey to market” – as the kind person at the Crocker Farm booth whose advice we followed to find this story.