L.A. Fruteros’ colorful umbrellas are powerful symbols against development and COVID

L.A. Fruteros’ colorful umbrellas are powerful symbols against development and COVID

It’s been a while since I’ve seen the guy at the edge of the Target parking lot who always had the sweetest papaya, and, come to think of it, I rarely spy the lady by the gas station on El Segundo Boulevard who stacked the fruit extra high. To find out if my hunch is right, I contact Rocío Rosales, associate professor of sociology at UC Irvine and the author of Fruteros:  Street Vending, Illegality, and Ethnic Community in Los Angeles, a fascinating study that highlights the paisanaje—many fruteros share common hometowns and send money back to their families—and the evolving challenges of selling fruit in a public space.