In the lead up to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next month, authorities are cracking down on street vendors, claiming they pose a potential security threat.
Speaking to the Indo Asian News Service (IANS), vendors reported being asked to cease retailing during October because of the games.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, however, said any clampdown on street vendors is a result of squatting and not due to the Games, reported IANS.
Either way, the crackdown has the potential to impact sales of fresh produce in the Indian capital, since consumers in India mostly purchase their fruit and vegetables from street-side vendors and open marketplaces.
According to a report from Rabo India Finance published in Asiafruit Magazine last year, organised retail outlets account for less than 1 per cent of total fruit and vegetables sales in India, with the traditional retail trade having a near stranglehold on the market.
Nevertheless, some sources in the fruit trade believe the Commonwealth Games, which runs from 3-14 October, could have a positive effect on the market for imported fruits.
Sanjay Arora of leading Indian fresh fruit import company IG International told Fruitnet.com that the event presents a good opportunity to sell newer varieties of apples in a market heavily dominated by Red Delicious.
“Varieties like Gala, Granny, New Zealand Rose and New Zealand Queen are gaining acceptance in certain segments of the Indian market as education increases,” said Mr Arora. “Supermarkets are trying to sell new varieties, as are five-star hotels, and we think the Games will create more demand for novelty.”
