Street vendors: the untold truth

Leela Stuepfert

Along the Alameda de Las Pulgas- San Carlos Avenue corridor lies an eye-catching, multicolored umbrella over an array of fruit. Upon a closer look, these vibrant colors reveal a fruit stand in front of Carlmont High School’s senior parking lot.

Behind this stand sits a vendor hoping to provide a source of income for his family by selling produce. Beneath the surface of his job lies an unseen story of hard work, sacrifice, and persistence. Born in Guatemala, Francisco made his initial daring journey to the U.S. 25 years ago in hopes of a better life. “I first came to the U.S. in 1995, and I have gone back and

Raina Lahiri

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forth multiple times over the years for work to help support my family in Guatemala. This last time I came, I brought back my seventeen-year-old daughter with me,” Francisco said. “Most of my family, including my wife and two of my other children, ages seven and 18, are still there. I hope one day, my daughter can learn English, go to school, and one day find work and opportunities which very few Guatemalans back home have.”

Compared to the U.S., the unemployment rate in Guatemala is tremendously high, forcing many immigrants to migrate to the U.S. to search for work illegally. According to a study done by the Central Intelligence Agency, more than half the Guatemalan population is below the national poverty line, and 23% live in extreme poverty.

“Back home in Guatemala, there is no work and a lot of even bigger problems for people. Many people send family here for work in order to send money back home as soon as possible,” Francisco said. “It is not always easy here either.”

Street vendors all over the country have felt the economic pains of the pandemic and have become self-reliant to stay afloat due to a change in customer behavior.

“In the beginning, people were reluctant to come close to the stand because they were scared to touch the fruit,” Francisco said. “Business is doing okay, some days are better than others.” The government’s sponsored relief programs exclude many self-employed, informal businesses such as street vendors due to documentation requirements and one’s legal status. The lack of work permits or social security numbers makes them ineligible for unemployment benefits. “These guys spend their day and time sitting outside and selling fruit. They don’t get paid to sit there. They get paid when you buy fruit, and the more fruit you buy, the sooner they can go home to their families,” Allison Davies, a Belmont resident, said. to as his “regulars,” which include local “They’re always very respectful and neighborhood residents. helpful.” “I buy fruit from him often because

Illegal vendors work in fear of police he is right down the street. It always intervention, having their stands con- looks so fresh and juicy,” Davies said. fiscated, or being fined. Despite these “He even told me exactly how many days concerns, Francisco’s ambition to sup- to wait for them to be completely ripe.” port his loved ones pushes him to make From a customer’s standpoint, the 45-minute commute over the bridge outdoor stands can be configured to from the East Bay. encourage social distancing, which a

“I commute here Wednesdays grocery store’s indoor environment does through Sunday every week from where not provide. my daughter and I live to sell from 11 “I’d rather support a street vendor a.m. to 6 p.m. or later,” Francisco said. than have to wait in line at a grocery

Early each morning, Francisco’s store. It is a lot better if you want to be cousin, who also works as a fruit vendor, outside instead of being trapped in a collects and distributes fruit for them to store with so many other people,” Simsell from a large industrial street area in one Beilin, a senior at Carlmont, said. “It Oakland. The commonly used location is also a much more genuine experience.” serves as a central distribution source for The various social and political views local grocery stores and merchants. regarding immigration remains a hot

“There is a large street area in button issue around the world and espeOakland that supplies many other local cially in the U.S. grocery stores and merchants with fruits “Being undocumented does not make for these businesses early each morning,” you disqualified to earn an honest living Francisco said. “The reason to buy from or receive the help you deserve like me is the fruit is fresh and not old and anyone else.” Beilin said. “In my mind, from a freezer. It has more flavor, and I this is not up for debate. The government think people who buy from me appreci- needs to implement a better system for ate that.” obtaining citizenship in America because

In order to successfully run the stand, a lot of people are in need of immediate thoroughly understanding the customer asylum or help.” market is vital. Francisco does this by Despite the challenges Francisco tracking the number of daily customers endures, his persistence highlights most and his overhead costs to calculate his immigrants’ aspiration for dignity, safety, profit margin. and a better future for themselves and

“On average, I think I have around 10 their families. His colorful offerings to to 20 clients per day. I buy each of these our community serve as a sign of hope mango fruit boxes for $18 and sell each for our future, and his story redefines for $20. Some days the cost to buy is a what “success” can mean to many. little more for me or less, and then I may Francisco said, “It does not help to have to change the price for customers worry. I am doing what I can, and I am based on that,” Francisco said. “I make happy.” around $40 to $50 per day here, and that is usually enough for my rent and food for me and my daughter.”

Street vendors, like Francisco, try to strategically locate their workplaces in areas with a steady pedestrian or traffic flow to increase market exposure and maximize their daily revenue.

“I have worked in many different areas,” Francisco said. “I chose this specific spot to sell because it is a good, safe corner and has lots of cars and potential clients.”

Francisco receives different customers, including some of whom he refers Art by Leela Stuepfert

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