CLICK HERE if you can’t view the gallery in a mobile device.
As the entire Bay Area begins to settle in to the shelter-in-place order put out by the Governor’s office, the streets have emptied and most activity has come to a stand still. However, at daybreak near Jack London Square in Oakland the streets are bustling with activity as produce merchants unload fresh produce onto the streets awaiting early morning customers. The COVID-19 pandemic has closed businesses and has limited restaurants to offer only take out orders. So while some merchants struggle to sell their produce, others have seen an increased their sales at the old Merchant’s district.
One of those merchants is David Nuñez, owner of Gold Bear Produce. His sales have increased 80 percent because he sells and delivers to markets only, not to restaurants. His clients are from Oakland, Sonoma and Napa counties. He is really busy as customers load their dollies with produce and load boxes into their trucks.
Across the street from Gold Bear, is Vincent Produce. “Sales dropped 75 percent, down since Tuesday,” says owner Vincent On, who wears a face mask as he sweeps the inside of a truck and the sidewalk outside his warehouse. His business depends on restaurant orders, not produce markets.
Seven Bay Area counties put out orders to shelter-in-place on Tuesday, March 17th after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call to close bars and order restaurants to end dine-in service to reduce the spread of fatal COVID-19. Food trucks, grocery stores and charitable food distribution sites are not affected.
Juan Gallo, manager at All Season Produce, said his sales are the same; however, he was afraid the border with Mexico would close. All their produce is imported from Mexico. And he was right, Mexico and the United States agreed to close the border temporally, but trade between both countries will not be affected.
