Coconut vendor pop ups in Annandale
A coconut vendor popped up in the Giant parking lot in Annandale yesterday. Ilda Ferrunfino, her husband Celso Torrico, and daughter Kathy Vargas were selling coconuts, fresh mango, and pineapples under a white tent on the back of a pickup truck.
Torrico cut the coconuts for drinking the juice with a straw and also sold the coconut meat. It’s $10 per coconut cup and $7 for a whole coconut.
The family sets up their popup in various locations in Fairfax County. They hope to return to Annandale soon. The fruit is shipped from Miami to Baltimore, where they pick it up.
18 responses to “Coconut vendor pop ups in Annandale”
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Wish I knew they were there!!
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry as it relates to my property values. You would not see a “coconut vendor” anywhere in McLean!
These vendors are popping up all over the DC area. It has become quite a normal occurrence as nearly everyday, I drive by one somewhere in the area.
They’re normally at the intersection of Columbia Pike and the W&OD trail in Arlington (near the community center) on a daily basis.
Are they still there?
They are a welcome sight to me. Love getting their products, that are fresh and reasonable. It also helps workers to earn some type of living!
I’ll play devils advocate and say I’m not a fan of these sorts of things, barring a a valid and published permit at the site. Farmers Market/Fruit Stands/Food vendors are supposed to abide by and be subject to a number of regulations, including food storage, processing and handling requirements. From what I’ve read of the permitting process it isn’t even all that difficult to qualify for, and I’m all for cutting the middle man out but for a lot of this I would like some sort of published permit number or verifiable item on where the goods were obtained and how they were to be stored/processed before distribution. Cash only or otherwise makes no matter to me, but improperly stored produce or unsanitary preparing conditions expose people to seriously illness needlessly.
Well, since they setup “shop” in a variety of parking lots on weekends, they are probably getting around required health regulations, permission to vend in the specific lots and business licenses. While on the surface, it may seem like a good idea, it is just another way for people to make money without required permits.
I think if you buy a coconut off the back of a truck in the Giant parking lot, whatever happens to you after that is on you. No need for taxes to pay fruit cops to chase these people down. Don’t like unregistered fruit, don’t buy the fruit and let these people make a living.
WTF! Another contributor to the downward trend of the area and the Mason District in general.
I agree. This is Fairfax County, not Tijuana.
Wow… just wow
Sad the amount of bigots and trash that pass themselves off as solid citizens in NOVA.
So, if it were an elderly caucasian man selling tomatoes and corn, would you say the same???
A couple of questions:
1. Am I missing something — “Redevelopment”: what is “WTF”?
2. I have seen them selling near seven corners also — thought nothing of it — didn’t go over or buy.
3. Does make you wonder regarding the permits
4. Do vendors at farmers’ market need permits?
5. Now would this be classified as soliciting or canvasing — oh they aren’t knocking on your door.
These people don’t even have hand washing stations. Pay no taxes on the revenue and have no business license or tax id. This wojld never fly for anyone else
I believe it’s the migrants illegally here and since they can’t work here legally and they have already filled the jobs in construction they sell coconuts. I guess it’s better than them living a life of crime. I mean they are living a life of crime by being here in America but at least they aren’t robbing people or businesses. As stated in previous comments I would never go to buy anything there as they aren’t following food safety rules and they are to numerous for the health department to keep up.
Only whole uncut fruit can be sold without a food service facility license; albeit, if sold on the side of the road or on a parking lot, it may be a Zoning violation. Any preparation (cutting) of fruit requires a food service facility (fsf) license to ensure sanitation measures are in place. FSF licenses are not issued to popup roadside vendors, but can be issued to vendors that participate at a farmer’s market or a temporary event (fair, carnival, grand opening, etc.), depending upon local codes or regulations.