Anaya Produce Truck, Salinas
The proposed mobile vendor ordinance would affect not only taco trucks, but also produce vendors who sell on the streets of Salinas. At the January 23 public hearing, one of the council members said she had heard from a local physician that the city should be encouraging citizens to eat MORE fruits and vegetables rather than reducing the number of accessible outlets for buying fresh produce.
After hearing that, the next morning I headed out to the Alisal district to try to find a produce truck during the off-season. I found Anaya Produce’s truck parked in front of Payless Shoes (712 E Alisal St., Salinas). It takes up one parking space at the curb and has another space behind it. Payless has an off-street parking lot for its own customers.
Image of the produce truck -
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/250/523745299_630d5bc023_b.jpg
In January, the truck was chockfull of fresh citrus, tomatoes, melons, mangoes, and other tropical fruits. Mr. Anaya was busy with a knife trimming cactus pads to be cut into nopalitos.
Image of Mr. Anaya -
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/239/52...
I asked him what he would do if the proposed vendor ordinance went through. He shrugged and said he didn’t know. He has been in this area for nearly 30 years, first laboring in the fields. When he could no longer do that kind of work, he started this business to make a living. Going back to Mexico isn’t an option, as he considers Salinas his home.
Anaya Produce
Salinas, CA
831-422-9437
By Melanie Wong
on May 31, 2007 01:41 PM
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The people running Salinas are morons.... I don't think John Steinbeck would approve!!!
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Well, during his day, the Salinas powers-that-be didn't approve of John Steinbeck!
It's my understanding that the street vendor program was originally set up to provide opportunities for self-employment. But unfortunately, today, the vendors are in the way of the proverbial path to development. I don't think Salinas leaders are morons, just trying to strike a difficult balance. I hate to see something that has been legal become criminalized and to deprive hard-working people of their livelihood. I think there will be a lot of unintended consequences if they do go down that road. Here's an article about the experience in Delhi, India when it tried to outlaw street food, http://www.chow.com/stories/10577 . I think it would just go underground here too, as the market demand definitely exists, and that becomes a true health and safety issue much greater than the situation today.
A similar ban is in the works in Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, and many municipalities elsewhere. To me, it has some roots in the anti-immigrant feeling. But here in Salinas, I see a first generation vs. second generation conflict. The second generation is well-represented on the Salinas city council and they are trying to prove that they're assimilated. Anything that smacks of street life in Mexico is an embarassment, taking away from their vision of a first-world city. However, nothing is more American to me than these street vendors who came here for a better life, saved up their money to buy a catering truck, and are proud entrepreneurs. Somehow they fail to see the charm and attraction of a street festival every night on the east side of Salinas. Other cities have to pour money and energy into creating what has developed here organically. Please come to Salinas and enjoy our street food!
According to the city records, there are six more produce trucks with permits. Now that the season is in full swing, I'll try to find them and report back. I hope to hear from others who know more about them.
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"The second generation is well-represented on the Salinas city council and they are trying to prove that they're assimilated. Anything that smacks of street life in Mexico is an embarassment, taking away from their vision of a first-world city."
I think you proved my point... they are morons! I know the mindset... battled it throughout college in Latino leadership organizations. Its a similar mindset to people that think poorly built track homes in a gated community + chain restaurants = the epitome of Western achievements.
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Yes, that is the mindset, though there is some talk of "culturally appropriate" redevelopment. I don't understand either why duplicating the same blandness is considered progress. Why would anyone want to live in a neighborhood that is without individuality and color?
Sr. Nopal's "The Great USA Taco Encyclopedia",
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/36058...
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Most anxious to hear your reportsso I can plan my noshing & shopping for my next trek to Salinas.
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Interesting that the trucks are seen as somehow not American. As you say, they seem very American to me...but then, perhaps the second generation in Salinas doesn't remember such American icons as the Good Humor Man (I mean, wasn't he just an ice cream truck?), the milk guy delivering the milk to the door, and more...
I look forward to hearing your report on the other produce trucks! Those mangoes look good! Now that cherry season is in full swing, I'd love to hear of any that have cherries...
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The Good Humor truck used to circle in my parents' neighborhood, but haven't seen it in years. However, close by I found you an ice cream truck. Here's the post,
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/408185
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Salinas and the eastern side if the Central Valley where I grew up are similar--based on the energy of small farmers, some who sold their produce directly to the public. Holding on to the produce truck vendors supports growing movements across the US to buy locally and to support local farmers and entrepreneurs--and to obtain good, frm-fresh produce. Hang on to a good thing, Salinas.
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OK, this borders on the absurd.
In the East Bay, there are produce trucks scattered here and there. It doesn't impact my buying patterns. There are some things I buy from grocery stores, some things from corner markets, some things from farmers markets and some from produce trucks.
It depends on who has the best price and is the most conveniant.
Isn't free enterprise what America is all about. If people weren't buying from the trucks, they would go away. Sure there's no even playing field in business ... the playing field is supposed to be the best product at the best price.
In Richmond, the farmers market was selling cherries for $3 a pound and oranges for $5 a bag. The produce truck up the street was selling cherries for $2 a pound and oranges for $3 dollars a bag.
The oranges were the same qualiy at both places. The produce truck cherries weren't so good. I bought the cherries at the farmers market and the oranges at the produce truck.
Let the consumer decide for themselves. Free enterprise.
In Oakland they have a few experimental produce truck programs to get fresh veggies and fruit at reasonable prices where there are few options.
Politicians won't regulate big oil companies because they don't want to step on free enterprise. However, here's regulation on someone trying to sell a taco because from my understanding it is undermining local business. How is this logical?
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You've hit it on the head. For me, I'm not siding with the brick and mortar merchants or with the vendors. I'm in it for my own selfish, chowhound reasons, wanting to have as much choice and quality in the foods available to me. It's a matter of consumer choice and restraining trade unduly in ways that limit my choices and subvert market forces sticks in my craw.
I had read a complaint that Mr. Anaya's sign was obstructing the sidewalk and almost injured someone. Well, his sign is propped up against a tree (you can see the shadow of the tree in my photo). If someone managed to bump into the sign, he/she would ram right into a tree trunk too. Maybe we should cut down all the street front trees in Salinas.
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Doing a lit search tonight, the article, "Food Availability, Personal Constraints, and Community Resources", by Catherine Cubbin and Marilyn A. Winkleby, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2007;61:932, January 8, 2008, http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/61/11/932 popped up. The last sentence states, "Furthermore, innovative resources that residents of deprived neighbourhoods often mobilise to enhance their health, such as transporting local produce directly to residents (fig 1B), are rarely acknowledged."
And, when you click on fig 1B, the linked photo of the back of a produce truck, http://jech.bmj.com/content/vol61/iss... , looked awfully familiar to me. Comparing it to my photo above, it's easily identified as Mr Anaya's truck!
I'm glad the City of Salinas recognized the asset that these trucks are to their communities.
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Stopped by Mr. Anaya's truck on Thursday morning. It's in the same location in front of Payless Shoes. The truck has been stripped down to the bare sheetmetal and painted with colorful fruits and vegetables and lettering for the business name and phone number, as shown here,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniew...
Mr. Anaya had fresh sugar cane, milperos (tiny tomatillos), chilacayote, and many types of tropical fruit. He has also posted "no smoking" signs as part of the Steps to a Healthier Salinas program for smoke-free entryways for local businesses.
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Anaya Produce
712 E Alisal St, Salinas, CA
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