Italian Pushcart Venders Across the Americas

Watermelon push cart on the streets of New York City circa 1940s to 1950s (Courtesy of National Archives II College Park Maryland) 

Some four million Italians immigrated to the Americas between the end of the nineteenth century and the 1920s. Most settled in larger cities across the Americas such as Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Montevideo in South America and New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and New Orleans in North America. In most instances, they lived and worked in close proximity to each other when possible they established urban food gardens similar to what they did back home. From these gardens they grew produce that they consumed and sold on stands, at markets, and on pushcarts. For many Italian immigrants selling fruit served as their first entry into local American economies. From a profitable street cart selling fruit they expanded into larger more profitable businesses such as grocery stores and restaurants. Selling food like watermelons symbolized a chance to go into business for oneself and make the most of community taste. In short, for a gardener and the street vender of food, the watermelon and other produce raised expensively and sold at a profit could provide an avenue to increased economic opportunity.

Italian American Foodways and Recipes: http://www.foodasalens.com/search?q=Italians

Watermelon Stories and Recipes: http://www.foodasalens.com/search?q=watermelon

Street Venders Series with Recipes: http://www.foodasalens.com/search?q=Street+Venders

Gardening Series with Recipes: http://www.foodasalens.com/search?q=Gardening+series