Chicago is like many big cities that takes pride in self-sufficiency. Of course we all know how interdependent people and places are in our global economy. Goods and services traffic borders of all sorts, political and ecological. We also know that the big headlines are made by the big players, the freight cars rolling across the country, the goods transshipped up the Mississippi from Asian origins, but consider the farmer and his or her truck, Chicago certainly is.

Chicago is also taking pride in becoming a green city. A system of 24 farmer's markets has grown over the last 20-30 years, roadside stands proliferate across the metropolitan area. Farmers from as far away as Arkansas sell goods at these markets, but between gasoline prices constraining some farmers and the more positive desire of the City to promote local commerce, comes the invitation to Wisconsin farmers to join Chicago markets.

The City of Chicago recently organized a farm forum to answer questions and promote participation in the City's markets. With an interest in speciality food and fruit, and a large supply of both in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, the possibilities for direct sales are rapidly growing.

In the movie "Patch Adams" the lead character checks himself into a psychatric hospital, unable to see beyond his private malaise. But he is cured by another patient who helps him have a vision beyond the obvious. Storefront and street business and other parties in conflict need help developing a broader vision.

The New York Times reports that the Korean Merchants Association is upset at the prospects of 1000 new street vendors peddling produce in to the poor and those distant from grocery stores. Without a doubt the KMA is acting on its interest in reducing competition from other merchants, but why aren't the various parties, the City, the KMA and potential merchants, not negotiating for win-win solutions?

As 100 years ago, street vendors are called upon to provide access to inexpensive, fresh foods. The concerns then and now are similar, providing produce, enhancing dietary choice and reducing the distance to store-front merchants. The parties could take a lesson from 100 years ago when cities around the country also acknowledged the role street merchants and public markets played in reducing unemployment and providing income-earning opportunities that could eventually lead to new business or the skills and resources to join the workforce.

This past week the New York Times reported that some groups representing New York City's Korean-owned small grocery stores object to a proposal to license 1000 fruit and vegetable carts-- Green Carts-- in parts of the city where little produce is consumed. These objectors demand that if any licenses are granted, that grocery store owners be given preference.

Any time the government restricts the number of entrants to a market, the question inevitably arises whether the "right" people are being excluded. Before settling on a licensing scheme for its Green Cart program, New York might want to consider the experience of Los Angeles, California. There sidewalk vending is generally illegal, and has been for decades. About 10 years ago Los Angeles faced growing numbers of illegal vendors and decided to establish a place where they could ply their trade legally, in MacArthur Park. The city made room for as many as 30 vendors, but the number of illegal vendors who wanted to "go straight" far exceeded that. How did Los Angeles pick the lucky 30?

“It was the owners’ unwillingness to comply with repeated attempts to get counterfeiting activity out of the buildings that made us decide to go against them in this aggressive action,” concludes the article in the New York Times...and so goes the reputation of street merchants and markets where thousands of people, old and young, new immigrants and native born, earn their living or seek economic mobility for their families. But, is illegal merchandise pervasive among merchants and in markets? No, indeed, the stores raided in NYC harbored counterfeit merchandise, but a careful look at most vendors reveals the typical merchant avoids the illegal and obtains legitimate merchandise by hard work and carefully cultivated connections.

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.