Organic fruits, veggies and other delights are reason enough to shop at this farm kiosk, but the fact that there is no staff, making payment a transaction in trust is what keeps people coming back.
SHARJAH // An unstaffed roadside fruit and vegetable kiosk where customers are trusted to pay for what they take has reopened for business this winter.
News that the shop in Maleha, off the Sharjah-Kalba road, has resumed operations after the summer has spread quickly to its loyal and very honest customers.
Curious residents were drawn to the bamboo-and-thatch kiosk, which is filled with fresh herbs and locally-grown organic vegetables picked each morning, after hearing there was no cash till or shop attendants.
“I think this place is checking out our honesty, it is really incredible and impressive to do this and trust people,” said Muneer Moideen, a businessman who lives 60 kilometres away in Sharjah but makes sure to stop at the kiosk to pick up weekly purchases when in the area.
“I come back here because everything is very tasty and I’m all for organic. Everything is organised and well arranged.”
Mr Moideen speaks to his wife on the phone to double check what is required, stacks up his purchases, adds it up on a calculator on the centre table and drops the cash into a money slot.
Small signboards explain “Kindly it is self service”, “100 per cent local” and “Please pay here” with an arrow pointing to the table.
Many customers pull up at the kiosk before turning into a nearby petrol station.
“I read this on Facebook and searched for it because I wanted to see if it was true,” said Adel Razak, a government infrastructure officer.
“I bring my children because it is such an unusual place. The first time they wanted to know where were the CCTV cameras and how the owner would catch people who stole something.
“They enjoy adding up what we buy and walking out with it.”
Highlighting the honesty concept is the objective of Emirati farmer Abdullah Al Qaydi.
The store is stocked daily with oranges, cucumbers, aubergines, marrows, courgettes, squash, onions and herbs picked at dawn from his farms in Maliha, Ras Al Khaimah and Dhaid.
Latest additions are watermelon, lettuce, dill, rosemary, parsley, date boxes and henna, neatly marketed in bottles.
Plans to open similar kiosks in Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Dubai are awaiting approval.
“I’m very happy when I see families come and send their children to put money in the box,” Mr Al Qaydi said.
“People first came to see, ‘What is this idea,’ and now they are understanding the concept.”
The kiosk opens at 8.30am and tube lights flicker on the stacked wooden shelves until 8pm.
The produce is removed every evening in compliance with municipality hygiene regulations.
Mr Al Qaydi’s experiment was inspired by an honesty store he saw near a farm in Germany.
There are similar unmanned stores in the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and India selling produce such as eggs, jam, honey or local crafts. Some even have fridges stacked with meals.
“I have more plans but it will all happen slowly,” Mr Al Qaydi said of his proposed new honesty kiosks. “The goal for me is to show that my country is number one in safety, security and to trust people. I’m a happy man in a happy country.”
rtalwar@thenational.ae
