The Stabreok Business’ IYFV personality this week is Bourda Market Stall 7981 stallholder Robbiedatt more widely known as ‘Robbie,” currently in his third decade as a fruit Vendor. The 57 year-old Foulis, Enmore resident was introduced to the pursuit by his now deceased mother from whom he inherited the business.
Last week ‘Robbie’ told Stabroek Business that he makes the trip from Foulis to Georgetown every day to ply his trade. Like most fruit vendors he deals in seasonal fruit, acquiring his supplies from middlemen who travel mostly from Berbice with supplies acquired directly from farmers there. He explains that fruit vending is not the kind of pursuit that allows you to rely on limited supply sources. Accordingly, when fruits from Berbice are in short supply he must do business with middlemen from Parika, Pomeroom and Mahaica.
The display in the supporting photograph is reflective of a new watermelon deal that ‘Robbie’ struck recently with a source in Lethem. Robbie told Stabroek Business that the current spike in fruit prices is the result of the “December/January rains which affected fruit harvesting. Citrus fruit, he explained, have been amongst the worst affected. He expects, however, that these will make “a comeback” soon. Robbie sees himself as providing a service one which he believes has grown in significance since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
