Anther place you can buy your fresh produce is from a street vendor. The reasons for prefering a vendor to a supermarket are basically price and convenience.Prices are usually lower at a street vendor. This was actually an issue of contention discussed during the local mayoral campaign last spring. It is believed...one doesn't want to accuse...that perhaps some, and I'm not saying all, and I'm certainly not saying this guy here...but some of these vendors might not actually have a sales license... And if you don't have to pay all those taxes, why not pass the savings on to the consumer? Every good businessman knows that lower prices pull in customers.
As for convenience, if you live in the town center and you happen to live near one of these vendors, or pass by on your way home for lunch...well, there he is, waiting for you right there on the corner. No line to weigh things, no line at the checkout counter, no waiting for a sales receipt, he won't ask you to pay for your plastic bag...
I don't think that freshness or quality are an issue here. Sometimes these guys have produce that is locally grown, but no more or less than the supermarkets. You can see the bananas in the photo, and I can guarantee you that there are no banana plantations anywhere around here!
Just for your information, the building behind the vendor on the left is my older son's junior high. I shot this photo while waiting to pick him up after school. Every moment of the day offers a potential photo opportunity! :-)
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13 comments:
The turquoise APE is so cute! Very italian.
I allways liked street vendors, unfortunatelly we don't have them anymore around here, you only can find them in the country.
Oh I love this blue truck! I was waiting in the carpool line for my Eva the other day and spotted an unusual doorway across the street. Jumped out and got it!HA Glad you did the same with your street vendor.
We call them the 'informal economy' here. I love them! Inexpensive and very, very convenient because they set up near busy transportation hubs. On carts, vans, trucks, so if a cop comes along, they're out of there! ;D
Those in trucks seem to come straight from the farm too — they usually only carry one kind of fruit or vegetable. And they're always sweeter than what I can get in supermarkets!
Very nice and lively view.
It's true, every moment of the day and every place offer a potential photo opportunity. I think sometimes it's interesting to find subjects just where they seem not to exist.
I really enjoyed looking at your blog. You have a great eye for photography!
locally grown is always better than mass produced organic stuff in my opinion. as for his not having a licence, no big deal, he's selling something we all want, and can't really do without...
Please visit to my blog to see your award.
I'm glad I found your blog. I only visited Italy once (Florence and Tuscany region)for 2 weeks but fell in love with the country, the art, the FOOD, the wine and the people. I found you through Nobu.
Dawn
Yup - makes me think that it's very Italian too. I enlarged the photo & saw the school/kids in the background. It's amazing how school kids in Europe look just like the one's here & I suppose in a lot of other places too.
omethinh we simply don't have here are street vendors, which is ood for a small island. The food is usually so fresh too.
Valeria - yes, it is, isn't it?
jm - that's too bad!
Virginia - no photo untaken! ;-)
Hilda - sometimes we get those one product trucks here, too. They usually come in from another area and go up and down the streets announcing their potatoes or watermelons with a bullhorn! That produce is of better quality.
Pietro - I think so, too. My son thinks I'm crazy for taking pictures of every little detail of everyday things!
Thanks Elizabeth, Nobu and Madison Ave Baby!
Babooshka - no street vendors? That's why your streets are so clean!
Tash - I think that's called globalisation!
Kiwi - I guess so...but there is something of a produce racket around here...
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