01/18/2006 07:07:00 AM 
(1) 
(1) Although less prevalent, they are also in pockets within the developing world within certain cities like, New York and are more commonly seen as a street market vendors.
The attraction is low prices, good produce and most important, a personal relationship or at least a direct dialog with the vendor. Over-time, in regular markets like those in Europe, these people can come to know your preferences, tastes and interests. They add an interesting personal and experiential layer.
Jinal Shah is a 22 year old from Bombay and writes a great blog. A recent post of hers was a celebration of her experiences with street hawkers in India and now she is in the US.
Here are some excerpts.
On Bombay
"There are streets in Bombay infamous just for their hawkers. Khaudra Gully/Bajaj Road in Parle West where the fresh juice-wala cart has a website, the owner owns a cell-phone for home deliveries and his son studies in Australia. Or Linking Road in Bandra, which is dotted with cheap and stylish shoe-carts that scamper everytime a police van draws closer and reappear minutes later. Infact, I heard this crazy story from a friend who's in Bombay about a bunch of hotel-management students setting up a street-cart outside Shivaji Park making fancy golas (crushed ice topped with syrups, nuts and tangy masalas) - the buzz was that the students used mineral water to make the golas and were extremely careful about hygiene and cleanliness - a trait often not associated with street vendors in Bombay. *sigh* "
On New York
"Already have a Soapsnyfruit-cart on 42nd Street that has become my favorite. The sandwich guy near Bryant park happily accomodates my vegeterian palate and these cold January days are made cheerful thanks to the rare occasions I meet the roasted-chestnuts cart. Yumm. As a group of drunk Indians ambled past the twisted streets of Chinatown looking for the bus that would take us home to Philly, my friends were thrilled on finding a street cart selling hot, spicy kababs on skewers at 7am on 1st January 2006."
The rise of local farmers markets is given a new importance to the street vendor. In the world of the sterlie, pre packaged and antiseptic, these people bring with them a direct connection to our food, they provide positive re-assurance and help to elevate the food shopping experience.
Grocery retailers should take a look at the growing trend and appeal of farmers markets, a lot of it is about finding good local and organic produce, but this isn't their secret, there is also that all important personal connection.
Perhaps retailers, like Whole Foods and those who apire to be more like Whole Foods, should think about having days when they bring their farmers and producers to the store, so shoppers can make that direct connection with the food that they buy.
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You've analyzed the issue so well here. I couldn't agree more. Thank you for the mention as well.