A few years ago the "India Shining" BJP led govt. collapsed in Delhi - partly because the prices of onions had spiraled out of control (a newspaper report talked about a thief picking up a bag of onions from a kitchen of a house he was stealing from during those dark days...).
The main suppliers of vegetables for most urbanites have been men selling them from 4-wheeled flat carts - piled high with veggies which they get from the local market - which in turn comes from the larger markets.
A series of upscale supermarkets have moved in and seriously challenged these vendors - at least for the upper middle class section of their clientelle. Last year saw groups of small shop-owners and vendors stoning new super-market openings in places like Ranchi etc.
Opposite our building complex is such a place called "Foodland". It had started as "Spar" - apparently a Dutch brand - but was renamed "Foodland" since they already had a fleet of such stores and wanted to build their own brand identity - so much for the attraction of all things "Phoren" that I had grown up with.
The produce section of Foodland is generally impressive. Racks of veggies that you chose and then is weighed on electronic scales so you pay for exactly the amount you purchase. The prices pretty competitive with the vendors outside. Sometimes even cheaper. The advantage for the consumer is being able to choose what you want and the accuracy of the weighing. On the other hand, the vendors at the street corner continue their trade - and at times have cheaper veggies than Foodland does.
Just when you thought that we now have a new balance - a new equilibrium that has been reached a new player comes on the scene.
Instant markets - brought to you by trucks.
For the last 2 weeks, just below our house we have seen a veggie market emerge. A truck pulls up and the men lug out crates of different veggies. On cue folks from different buildings emerge to buy.
Apparently they bring the veggies straight from Nasik and villages in that area. I think that they just buy from the large produce whole-sale market in New Bombay and then bring it here.
The first week their tomatoes were Rs. 22 to the Rs. 34 at Foodland.
Naturally we and others bought.
This week the tomato index was reversed. Still Rs. 22 at this mega-vendor - but apparently only Rs. 16 at Foodland.
Its a tomato-eat-tomato world out there.
I have already missed the man who used to sell me green bananas outside the Happy Valley Complex gate. A thin elderly man with large protruding eyes - he just isn't around any more. Where has he gone? Did he fall ill? Did he go back to his village and not come back? Did his customers abandon him for the golden yellow bananas found in Foodland - or for the convenience of a mini-market in your own appartment complex?
The working poor are probably the most invisible group - because if they can't scrape by here - they have to scrape by somewhere else.
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