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An idea for mobile markets
Dear Editor,
On Canada Day, July 1st, I had the pleasure of attending a Guyanese diaspora event in Woodbridge, Ontario. The place was packed. We were addressed by a high powered team from Guyana and, later, by President Ali himself. As usual, he knocked it out of the ballpark, without referring to notes. In the question period, he was asked what he thinks his legacy will be.
He immediately responded by saying that he does not think in terms of a legacy and for him to do so, would be presumptuous. All he hoped for is that people would say that he gave it his best. We took the measure of the man. Then we blinked and he was in Trinidad, attending the CARICOM meeting.
When President Ali mentioned the shade houses and mega farms that are coming on stream in Guyana, I remembered an idea that popped into my head decades ago. Many will remember the ice cream vans and their distinctive musical tones that we grew up hearing as they very slowly drove on our streets; stopping every now and then to serve customers. Those vans provided a template for my idea of having mobile markets. These vehicles would be roughly patterned on the ice cream vans and would also have distinctive musical tones. However, instead of vending ice cream, they would be specially configured to sell farm fresh produce. The coffee and food trucks that are used in North America also come to mind.
I am simply planting a seed, putting the idea out there. Maybe some enterprising person or entity (in Guyana or abroad) willrun with this idea and make it a reality. If the investor is based abroad, “Go invest” could shepherd the establishment of the business. A pilot project with two specially equipped vans might be the way to start, testing the waters so to speak. With today’s technology, it would be easy for the base of operations to track the location of each vehicle, and also to be in touch by phone. Target areas would be residential and rural. As demand grows, the number of vans could increase to a sizeable fleet. Suppliers would be small to mid-size farmers and also the shade houses and mega farms. Some cooked meals could also be sold in biodegradable containers. For example, breadfruit and stew is a good combo.
Here are some benefits of having mobile markets: 1. Convenient taking the market to the consumer. 2.Cutting out the time and gasoline expended in driving to the markets. 3.Easing the hassles of congestion and parking at the existing markets. 4.Stimulating and growing the market for local agricultural produce. The mobile market business itself can get involved in agriculture, thereby attaining what economists call vertical integration.
Now, if something is worth doing, it is worth doing well, to a level of excellence. Everything should be first class; accurate scales, cleanliness, well paid, honest, uniformed employees etc. What would be a good name for this business? The logical choice for the name that appears on the vans is “The mobile market”.
Yours faithfully,
Sieyf Shahabuddeen
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