City grocery-store owners are blasting Big Apple officials for allowing licensed fruit and vegetable vendors on the identical block as their shops — in some cases fewer than 30 feet away — eating into their profits.
In Forest Hills, Queens, a fruit and vegetable stand is positioned just 25 feet from a Key Food supermarket on the northern side of Queens Boulevard between 71st Avenue and 71st Road.
“They know they will pick off our customers,” fumed Nelson Eusebio, political director of the National Supermarket Association, which reps 600 Key Food, C-Town, Associated, Bravo and other grocers in the town.
The fruit and vegetable stand is positioned just 25 feet from a Key Food supermarket on the northern side of Queens Boulevard between 71st Avenue and 71st Road. Gregory P. Mango
City grocery-store owners are blasting Big Apple officials for allowing licensed fruit and vegetable vendors on the identical block as their shops. Gregory P. Mango
The window alongside the Key Foods has pictures promoting the sale of blueberries and asparagus — while the seller sells the identical fruit and veggies inside eyeshot.
It’s only one one example of vendors and grocers operating almost cheek-to-jowl.
There are about 500 licensed fruit and vegetable vendors across the town aimed toward providing fresh produce to neighborhoods that lack access, based on the town Health Department, which regulates them.
Fashionable Forest Hills just isn’t a neighborhood with limited access to healthy fruit and vegetables, so to permit such streetside competition is unfair, grocers say — noting the overhead costs they must pay similar to for unionized labor, property and utility bills.
“It is a big burning issue,” Eusebio said. “We’re not against the vendors making a living. But don’t put them next to any store. It’s gotten out of hand.”
Gristedes owner John Catsimatidis said permitting food vendors to locate so near his stores “destroys our produce department.”
The seller sells the identical fruit and veggies inside eyeshot. Gregory P. Mango
Gristedes owner John Catsimatidis said permitting food vendors to locate so near his stores “destroys our produce department.” Gregory P. Mango
He said it’s just one other example of Latest York being anti-business.
“Business is down. Shoplifting is up,” Catsimatidis said. “A whole lot of drugstores have closed. Possibly the grocery stores will close.”
Catsimatidis joined Eusebio in lamenting that neither Mayor Eric Adams’ administration nor the City Council have addressed the gripes.
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Forest Hills shoppers were divided on the grocers vs. vendor spat.
Paula, 75-year-old retiree who shops at each, sided with the vendors, saying she has a limited income and wishes to look at her spending.
“Forest Hills may be very, very expensive,” Paul said. “Key Food has every part, but prices are high. On the fruit stand, lemons are cheaper, broccoli is cheaper, tomatoes are cheaper, grapes are cheaper.”
“Don’t blame the seller. They’re trying to survive,” she said. “These supermarkets make quite a lot of money. They’re selling a ton of products. They earn a living on every part.”
There are about 500 licensed fruit and vegetable vendors across the town aimed toward providing fresh produce to neighborhoods that lack access. Gregory P. Mango
But Shawn, a Forest Hill office employee, said he doesn’t shop at fruit stands and agreed with grocers that putting vendors on the identical block is unfair competition.
“They’re taking business from the supermarket. They need to give a percentage of the business to the supermarket,” he said.
The fruit and veggie vendors pay a $200 annual permit to operate, plus $300 to $500 to store their carts — though some keep their tables on sidewalks 24-7.
“It’s definitely competition, however it’s not unfair competition,” said Matthew Shapiro, legal director of the Food Vendor Project of the Urban Justice Center, an advocacy group.
“It’s true that grocery stores have quite a lot of expenses, quite a lot of overhead. But they got loads in return. Vendors get a fraction of the return. We got vendors, farmers’ markets, grocery stores. There’s something for everybody,” he said.
The town Health Department defended the food-vendor program and brushed off complaints of grocers regarding location.
“It’s vital for communities to have a superb mixture of supermarkets, bodegas, farmers markets, green carts, etc. It’s easier to make healthy selections when healthy, inexpensive food is quickly available,” a Health Department spokesman said.
