In my last post I alluded to the 'fruit truck'. Well here is some history leading up to that 'adventure'
My Dad and all of his 6 brothers at one time or another worked @ the Regional Market in Syracuse.
So it was almost a given that I would find one of my first jobs there. Unloading the watermelon and other produce trucks that came in daily from many southern states was what I did. It's 5 am, still dark and you would open the rear doors of a trailer and be faced with rolls of melons neatly stacked between straw. It was a little intimidating for a kid of 14 and let me add, I worked for my Uncle Tony who was a very tough no nonsense guy. Some of the drivers of these 'rigs' were my first encounters with men who spoke a very different English than me and some were even a different color! This actually began my love affair for the workings of this fast paced, quirky city within a city filled with a an amazing array of 'characters' such as 'Jimmy the Greek', 'Fat Pete', and the 'Buzzard' to name only a few. I would also learn that the local farmers needed to sell their crops here, corn, tomatoes, peaches, berries and they were set up and ready to sell in 'farmers row' each morning. At 6 am the buyers would be let in and than it was a mad rush for the many varied operators of 'stands', stores, and produce routes to be first to get the best choices of the day's fresh offerings. After that most would than move on to the many 'produce houses' that lined 2 sides of the market. It is from these 'houses' that most of my time was spent and the real learning began. These venues carried all the out of state fruits and veggies and produce that just wasn't possible to produce or was out of season locally. I worked along side my older brother, Jimmy for which I was extremely grateful. He was faster, stronger and would always help to lessen my load whenever possible. It was very hard work, but it enabled me to earn money to buy my own cloths and some extras. Thus began the foundation that I would eventually use to open 'fruit stands, and oh yes, the 'fruit truck'. I need to acknowledge my Uncles whom were all the base for this foundation; Floyd (the oldest), Tony, Joe, Al, Frank and Art and of course my Dad. I also worked with my cousin Gary, whom along with my brother Jimmy, my Dad and several of my Uncles have passed on, but whom will always
have a special place in my heart for their contributions to and in my life....
I hope you will stop by and read the rest of this 'mini series'....Thanks for letting me share......
My Dad and all of his 6 brothers at one time or another worked @ the Regional Market in Syracuse.
So it was almost a given that I would find one of my first jobs there. Unloading the watermelon and other produce trucks that came in daily from many southern states was what I did. It's 5 am, still dark and you would open the rear doors of a trailer and be faced with rolls of melons neatly stacked between straw. It was a little intimidating for a kid of 14 and let me add, I worked for my Uncle Tony who was a very tough no nonsense guy. Some of the drivers of these 'rigs' were my first encounters with men who spoke a very different English than me and some were even a different color! This actually began my love affair for the workings of this fast paced, quirky city within a city filled with a an amazing array of 'characters' such as 'Jimmy the Greek', 'Fat Pete', and the 'Buzzard' to name only a few. I would also learn that the local farmers needed to sell their crops here, corn, tomatoes, peaches, berries and they were set up and ready to sell in 'farmers row' each morning. At 6 am the buyers would be let in and than it was a mad rush for the many varied operators of 'stands', stores, and produce routes to be first to get the best choices of the day's fresh offerings. After that most would than move on to the many 'produce houses' that lined 2 sides of the market. It is from these 'houses' that most of my time was spent and the real learning began. These venues carried all the out of state fruits and veggies and produce that just wasn't possible to produce or was out of season locally. I worked along side my older brother, Jimmy for which I was extremely grateful. He was faster, stronger and would always help to lessen my load whenever possible. It was very hard work, but it enabled me to earn money to buy my own cloths and some extras. Thus began the foundation that I would eventually use to open 'fruit stands, and oh yes, the 'fruit truck'. I need to acknowledge my Uncles whom were all the base for this foundation; Floyd (the oldest), Tony, Joe, Al, Frank and Art and of course my Dad. I also worked with my cousin Gary, whom along with my brother Jimmy, my Dad and several of my Uncles have passed on, but whom will always
have a special place in my heart for their contributions to and in my life....
I hope you will stop by and read the rest of this 'mini series'....Thanks for letting me share......
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