Street Merchants and Public Health

Cities all over the country are loosening restrictions on the street vendor. They are doing so for the obvious benefits merchants provide by marketing goods close to the consumer. But, besides the obvious benefit of proximity are unintended benefits of street commerce to public health.

How so?

First, street vendors bring produce to places under-served by storefront retail. For well over 100 years markets and pushcart peddlers have done so, interested readers can look at work by Helen Tangiers, John Cross, Steve Balkin, myself and others. Research clearly documents the importance of the street vendor to the city food system.

Second, vendors promote healthy pedestrian lifestyles. People get out and walk, they walk or bicycle to and around weekly markets all over the country and they walk to the produce peddler on the corner. Besides the exercise, the interaction promotes and healthy street scene.

Third, interaction contributes to health, an ear to listen to a story, a shared laugh, a sorrowful confession, these are all parts of repartee with a street vendor. The merchant has heard it all, business is no poorer for it and the day-to-day anxieties of life have an outlet.

Cities that welcome merchants and markets welcome a new avenue to a healthier community.