Downsize me!

Carbophobics (fear of carbohydrates) would possibly not visit Javed Bhai the greengrocer on Milton street adjoining Basha superstore but they would definitely be noticed by him while they walk past him uncomfortably. During my 45 minute interview, one Friday afternoon with him, he waved and greeted continuously, gave directions and shared views and sometimes sold fruit. Bananas were the most sold during that time, being the cheapest and often in singles.

The consummate salesperson, he told me about his efforts (5am-noon at the wholesale city market to get the best quality fruits), geographical origin of his fruits (from America, China, New Zealand and across India) stressing on his experience to gauge the quality of a fruit by looking at it and his memory for all his customers preferences. 

His shop is a rather simple typical street greengrocer: stepped counters that pour in and out of the simple hollow semi-permanent shell, boxes of fruits against bright tinsel paper. One of the more unique attachments was the wooden door that stood forlornly across the street, that would be fitted to the semi permanent shell at closing time.

Approach to Javed Bhai's shop on Milton Street, Cooke Town.

Javed Bhai describing the variety of products in his shop

Street (stationary and mobile) greengrocers are very intuitive to the food habits and economic background of the localities that they cater to, as every locality is composed of people from different parts of the country with their own specific culinary requirements. Services that they offer is delivery, on order and most importantly neighbourhood security. 

In India, it is not difficult to buy small quantities of food products. The smaller the shop the greater the chance of buying individual pieces of any food. At some bakeries it is possible to buy a single cookie or even parts of a loaf of bread. This is the downsize me! phenomenon, possibly because of the low incomes, precise budgets, and lack of refrigeration in many houses. 

This is a service that is especially catered to by mobile greengrocers more than street side greengrocers (though they make exceptions depending on the produce). They will slice a watermelon, papaya, pineapple, jackfruit and you can buy what you need. This is what I believe ensures that fruits and vegetables are consumed a bit more democratically across the country. This is also a service I believe that could keep obesity and related health disorders down if made into an international health policy. 

Single distribution network for products as described by street vendors (stationary and mobile). WIP diagram as more retail points are studied

The Japanese do something similar, packaging individual biscuits in an endless expanse of plastic. Could we design food dispensers that somehow allow one to choose the quantity, the packaging and still retain hygiene standards?