Mawaleh vendors launch mobile vegetable and fruit shops

Vendors at the Mawaleh market, the central market for fruits and vegetables, are visiting different areas of the city along with fresh fruits and vegetables in a bid to make up with the potential loss arising out of closure due to COVID-19. Some vendors are doing home delivery also.

Accordingly, several vegetable sellers are pulling up their stocks, loading into trucks and charting out different days of the week for different areas.

“This is aimed at catering to people from across the country who are not able to buy their daily food stocks regularly”, said Abdul Vahid of Suhol al Fayha, the largest local brand that imports and supplies fruits and vegetables across the country.

A wide range of offers makes these ‘fruits and vegetable suppliers’ different. They have special offers on special days and weekends, and a flat 10 per cent discount on all farm-fresh vegetables, besides free shipping and 24X7 customer support.

“No cash is collected in advance whereas we offer 100 per cent cash on delivery service which is a great support to people from all walks of life and to ensure the quality of the products. However, the rates of all vegetables and fruits will be varying according to the availability of the same”, Shebin, a marketing personnel told the Observer.

While focus of some of the leading suppliers is across the Sultanate, smaller players are focusing on Muscat Governorate and outskirts of the city.

The big players are delivering the orders at the doorstep, while smaller vendors set aside each day for each area as feeder day. For door delivery, the order should be of a minimum value of RO 5.

“Al Mawaleh Souq for vegetable and fruit has taken an initiative to visit customers on alternate days allowing them choose what they want but making sure that social distancing is maintained throughout the process”, another local supplier said.

Some of these trucks visit Ruwi, Wadi Kabir and Muttrah areas on Wednesday; Wadi Hattat, Al Amerat and Al Khuwair on Tuesday; Ghubra, Al Qurum, Bausher on Monday; and Ghala, Al Ansab and Misfah on Thursday. The truck schedule for Al Hail, Al Mawaleh, Maabela and Al Khoudh on Sunday.

“We literally can bring anything and everything a family needs from Al Mawaleh Souq for we know that everyone is taking part in a national stay home campaign against COVID-19. We too follow utmost care against the pandemic”, added Abdul Vahid.