Nallie: the original fruit man
Published:Saturday | July 23, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Dave Lindo, Gleaner Writer
WILLIAMSFIELD, Manchester: Passing on the highway, between Porus and Williamsfield, a colourful fruit stall next to the yam place should catch your eyes.
You will also see the signature green Ford 150, nicely decorated with pictures of fruits, with 'mellon' written boldly on it.
That's the stall of the popular fruit vendor Naldie Lewis, popularly known as Nallie, who has been selling fruits in Manchester for 40 years.
Nallie hails from Bull Savannah, a farming community in the 'fruit basket parish' of St Elizabeth.
He started selling fruits on Caledonia Road in 1971, across from the Mandeville Shopping Centre, from his then new Ford 150 van. He sold water melons along with a variety of other fruits.
Nallie was told to move from that location by the Manchester Parish Council. "They (parish council) told me that I should move one mile out of the town, so I relocated to the New Green roundabout at the top of Winston Jones Highway," he said.
He operated from the New Green roundabout for years and developed a thriving business, supported by people passing through the parish as well as residents of Mandeville.
His big draw was that he consistently provided fresh fruits, especially water melon, which he brought from his home parish. He sourced other fruits, some on a seasonal basis, from other parishes.
another relocation
For four years now, Nallie, prompted by the parish council, has relocated with his colourful Ford 150 to his present location.
After relocating, he took on an able assistant, Ruel Smith, who is from the nearby Trinity community. Smith takes control of the business when Nallie is off sourcing fresh fruits.
Although not enjoying the high volume of business at this location, compared to being at the New Green roundaout, Nallie is still able to survive. As he explained, "At the New Green roundabout, the traffic moves much slower, so people get more time to look, then stop and buy their fruits. Here on the highway, people drive fast. It's only people who really plan to stop and get some fruits, or stop to get their yam will come over."
Smith chipped in, "People from all over come here, even foreigners come here again and again. Some (foreigners) even send back presents for us with their family or friends."
The fruit stall is open 24 hours every day of the week, including public holidays. "People can come here any time for their fruits, even the police and the security guards working at nights come here."
The van, which evidently has seen 'better days', forms an important part of the business. "The doctor ordered me to stop driving it (van) because the smoke coming from it was affecting my health, so we leave it on location," he said. "It's our billboard that advertises the business. People can use it to know that it's the original fruit man stall."