How do produce stands in NYC, Montreal, and other major cities sell their items for less than most big box chains?

Question

In NYC, there are plenty of produce vendors on the street that sell aesthetic, fresh fruit for less than cost conscious mega-chains, like Wal Mart, Trader Joes, and Wegmans. The big chains have negotiating power, wholesale discounts, and economies of scale to help them profit on tiny margins. So, how is it that my small, local, fruit stand can outcompete pricewise with national chains and still stay afloat?

In: 2607

Answer 1

I don’t know the proper explanation, but the cheap fruit stands next to my house in Brooklyn has produce that is on its way out and must be used right away. There’s very little to no shelf life.

I personally love it because I cook all the time and having access to great veggies for cheap is amazing.