4/11/2017 – MIDTOWN; When most New Yorkers hear 14th Street mentioned, their minds quickly drift to Union Square Park, that tiny respite of nature asynchronously plopped down in the middle of the much-too-busy sidewalks. But Union Square isn’t the only place to catch a glimpse of the natural world along 14th street. There’s another option, and this one is as healthy as it is tasty.
The aptly named “Sidewalk Fruit Stand,” perched at the intersection of 14th Street with 3rd Avenue, is as unassuming as it is convenient. The cornucopia of apples, bananas, pineapples, and other seasonal fruits that sits atop the stand’s single table is restocked daily. This seems to be a little known gem, but its single Yelp review praises it as the perfect place to go – especially if it’s one in the morning, and even though you have a quarter in your pocket, you’d rather have a banana in your hand. Freegans of midtown, rejoice! Gone are your days of dumpster diving. Now, you can get fruit cheaply from a local business in the “big apple” without supporting the oppressive and socially irresponsible Big Apple industry.
I stopped one man as he was walking away from the stand with an apple that he had just purchased, and I asked him why he chose to shop at this particular fruit stand. “I wanted an apple,” he replied irately before whisking away and forever cementing my long-held suspicion that most New Yorkers really are dicks.
Even so, the man behind the stand refused to be brought down. He seemed less annoyed with me, bearing the type of grin usually reserved for the city’s drunk or delusional. I asked him what he was doing selling fruit on a sidewalk, wondering what had brought him to this point:
“What are you doing?” I asked abruptly.
“I’m selling delicious fruit, want some?” The man replied and asked.
“I’m ok.” I said before whisking away.
I’ll admit, there’s not much that’s exciting about this stand. It’s a small shop that has ripe fruit for cheap prices. But that is unique and pleasant in its own right; if you want exciting, pick up a bat salad at Walmart – but if you want healthy and simple, this is the place for you.
So the next time you hop off the R train at Union Square or the L train at 3rd Ave, think about stocking up on some Vitamin C before you seal yourself back inside of that mobile Petri dish.
And stay away from Big Salad. It just may save your life.
