Do You Buy Fruit From Roadside Sellers — Or Turn Them In?

Pulling your car up to buy a planter of strawberries from a seller sitting on the side of the road can be quite a convenience. But that seller could be operating illegally, according to California and Contra Costa County laws.

So, should you file a complaint or buy some strawberries?

One argument is that unpermitted vendors pose a health risk.

"Food and beverages sold to the public from unpermitted vendors can make consumers ill," according to Contra Costa County Health Services. "The food provided can’t be guaranteed to be safe, unadulterated and free of contamination."

On the other hand, "if a person wants to buy strawberries almost from the source, that's their right," said a Patch reader. "In the end I just feel like there are far worse things in the world to worry about than a polite man selling fruit."

A retail food permit for a roadside produce seller in Contra Costa County costs $374. Vendors are required to operate out of a pushcart that adheres to national sanitization standards and is stored in an approved kitchen. 

Local police agencies sometimes receive complaints about roadside food vendors, but the county recommends contacting the Contra Costa Environmental Health department at (925) 692-2500.

Do you think roadside vendors selling produce illegally should be warned, cited or left alone? Share your thoughts in the comments below.