Kumar Fruit Agency

We operate out of Gultekdi 683/684, which is right in the middle of the wholesale fruit market. If you want to see us in action, you have to come very early in the morning, around four or five. That is when the crates of fruit arrive from the orchards. It is a very busy time with lots of shouting and people moving quickly to get the best prices. We act as an agency, so we help the farmers sell their fruit to the retailers. Our space is just a big open stall with a small wooden desk in the corner for the accounts. The floor is often covered in straw and bits of fruit skin, but that’s just how a fruit market is. We don't have any air conditioning or fancy chairs. We just have a few stools and a lot of crates. The smell of mangoes or oranges can be very strong depending on the season. We have been in Gultekdi for a long time and we know almost every regular face in the market. It is a tough life because of the early hours, but we are used to it by now. We don't have a website or a marketing plan. We just rely on the relationships we have built with the farmers and the shopkeepers over many years. It is all about trust and being here every day, rain or shine. That is how we have always done things.