The fruits of their labor

Fruit vendors: We pass them on the street all the time, stopping to pick up a weekly $1 bundle of four bananas, 50-cent apples or a $2 pound of grapes. Their stands are not as large or celebrated as those at the Union Square Farmers Market, but they are just as much a part of New York City.

On a recent night, Saniya Akter stands at his fruit stand on the corner of 14th Street and Third Avenue, just steps from Trader Joe's. Akter's father owns five fruit stands, all within a few blocks of each other. Also working that night was Palash, 28, who has been living in New York for about a year and a half.

Situated like a beacon on the bustling corner of 14th Street and Third Avenue, the stand's trademark rainbow-colored beach umbrella and swinging lamp emit a welcoming glow on the rows of colorful produce.

Akter, 20, is originally from Bangladesh. She has been living in the Bronx with her father for only a year, but speaks English very well.

"I work here part-time every day except Saturday," she said. Akter usually works from 4 to 8 p.m.

Akter's father buys fruit from a food market in the Bronx. Each of his stands sells a variety of fruits and vegetables, including grapefruit, grapes, bananas, pineapples, carrots, mushrooms, persimmon and tomatoes.

Generally, buying from fruit vendors can save money. Even though Trader Joe's is cheaper compared to Whole Foods and the Food Emporium, street vendors are often the best bet when it comes to produce.

Steinhardt senior Katie Norman said it's more convenient to buy fruit from the vendors on her way home from class.

"They're generally a lot more pleasant to deal with than huge grocery stores if I'm just grabbing fruit," she said.

"I prefer to buy fruit from the fruit vendors, it's so much cheaper and more convenient," Gallatin sophomore Alex Costa said. "I don't have to wait in obnoxiously long lines at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods."

Palash shrugged when asked how many customers he serves each day, and timidly answered with a grin, "Too many." Palash makes about $1,000 a day selling fruit — but when one considers the cost for the fruit and Akter's father's profit margins, the workers themselves will likely make just around minimum wage.

"I've never really thought about where my money goes whenever I buy from the fruit stands," Costa said. "But I always wondered where the vendors lived. I always thought, 'Where do these guys live? And how can they afford to live there?'"

According to The Street Vendor Project, due to New York City "quality of life" crackdown, many street vendors are denied their vending license. There are often clashes between street vendors and business groups, police or even pedestrians. The Street Vendor Project is part of the Urban Justice Center and works to teach street vendors (many of whom are immigrants) about their legal rights and responsibilities. It also helps them expand their businesses by providing small business training and loans.

When asked if she enjoyed working the fruit stand, Akter replied: "I have no work, so I enjoy it."

Lecia Bushak is a staff writer.