Not An Impulse Buy: Blackberries
Thu, Jul 17, 2008
I’ve often wondered how much money roadside stands can possibly make. Doesn’t seem like the ideal way to make profits. And when you factor in sitting in the muggy summer heat all afternoon, it just doesn’t seem to be worth all the trouble.
But this blackberry salesman has claimed this spot for three days now. Haven’t seen a single person there, though. I mean, who is driving down Gallatin Road, thinking to themselves, “Let’s see, I got the pie plate, the pie crust, sugar, and–oh snap!! I forgot the blackberries!! Thank goodness there is a conveniently placed (and not at all shady) pickup truck parked in front of the Waffle House selling blackberries. What a lifesaver!”?
And yet he’s there for the third day in a row today.
How safe is it to buy produce and fruit from the back of some guy’s pickup truck? I mean, what happens if I get sick from your blackberries? Do I get a receipt or something… some sort of store number?
I guess if you’re a blackberry farmer, and you’re set up on a busy four-lane road to sell your wares, you’ve probably already exhausted all your other sales avenues.
Give this guy a break and go buy some of his blackberries.
Email This Post
Loading ...
August 6th, 2008 at 3:16 am
OK, you were clearly not raised in the country, or else you would know that produce trucks, usually with misspelled signs, on the side of the road are THE place to buy your fruits ang veggies. And let me tell you why.
First and foremost, it will be the best produce you’ve ever had. That farmer/salesman grew that produce and instead of chemical-ing it up for the supermarket truck, you get to buy it fresh from his shady truck, and probably chemical-free (that’s called “organic”, city boy) And, no, you do not get a receipt, but you do get to be called pansy city boy if you get sick.
The second reason you should buy from these trucks, and buy often, is because you are supporting the farmers in your local community. If your local supermarkets would purchase their produce, they wouldn’t have to sell from a truck, but the supermarkets are part of a system, and can you even imagine a local farmer finding a way into that system. Would never happen. Support your local farmers. That supports your communities. Our supermarkets won’t even miss you.
Also (or third), it really is cool. Farmers’ Markets all over the US are being stalked by celebrities as we speak. Sumner County doesn’t have a Farmers’ Market. We have Farmers’ Trucks, but it’s close enough. It’s in. Paris goes. Kate goes. Eva goes. Just go. You may see one of them there. I visit the one on Main St. in Gallatin who “Sells Produce Dayly”. I’ve got my eye out for Becks every time I stop by.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I agree with the above post. I saw him too, now I wish that I had stopped and bought some….You ever picked blackberries……..Hot…..Sweat…..Do I need to say “CHIGGERS”!!!!!
August 7th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Let’s not misunderstand my cynical take on roadside fruitstands–I’m sure those blackberries taste great.
But you know what? It’s a different world now. I used to walk to school by myself when I was 7. I used to trick-or-treat by myself, without parents.
Call me a skeptic… but I am just a wee bit hesitant to just trust some random farmer on the side of the road. At least the produce at Kroger–or even the Farmer’s Market in Nashville, which is wonderful–has some standards in place… some governmental oversight, rules and regulations.
Roadside produce trucks are here today, gone tomorrow. It makes me uneasy.
But I have no doubt the fruit is delicious.
And no, I wasn’t raised in the country.