SHOPPING FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
It is a pity that we buy clothes, gadgets and several other goods from well-lit, clean and enclosed spaces but buy vegetables and fruits from hand-carts by the roadside. On the contrary, more and more stores claiming to sell fresh produce have been entering the market. I entered one such store and as the cold air-conditioned air blasted in my face, I went straight to the vegetables and fruits aisle. An array of not-so-fresh local and exotic vegetables greeted me. One can never imagine bargaining in such a store whereas bargaining with hand-cart vendors is a common practice. Although its a welcome change to see new entrants in the produce and consumables industry, its worth one’s time to take a look at the hand-cart vendors where a majority of the population shops for produce.
Hand-cart vendors are at the lower end of the business owner spectrum making a day-to-day living out of selling fresh produce from farmlands located a little away from the city. Mid-size tempo trucks selling produce and four-wheeled wooden hand-carts selling fruits, vegetables and leafy greens of all shades are a common sight if one gets to look at the buzzing streets from the comfort of an auto-rickshaw ride.
The hand-carts typically have no names or brands associated with them and the sellers seldom give out printed receipts or bills. The most elaborate investment for infrastructure apart from the hand-cart itself does not go beyond a set of plastic carry bags, a tin container to hold the revenue of the day, a well-worn tarpaulin sheet for rainy days and an inexpensive LED lamp to make full use of the business hours.
Today, books are being written to remind us to eat whole grains, nuts, local and easily available fruits and vegetables. It is unfortunate that food which is the basis for nourishment and good health does not receive the same level of attention as imported goods and consumables. The hand-carts have been around for decades and yet there hasn’t been any change in the way produce is handled and sold.
In a country where fast foods and international brands are making their presence felt at a faster pace, there is a need to create awareness about local food benefits and the welfare of the farmers and vegetablesvendors and sellers.