Roaming Harvest

In case you weren’t aware, there are a lot of exciting things going on in the TC food arena. A bevy of new restaurants are popping up and a couple new breweries are poised to open that we’re excited to check out (to be honest, I’m beginning to think that starting this blog was just an excuse for us all to go out and eat and drink more, although I’m not complaining). Another great recent addition to the local food scene are food trucks and carts. I’ve had a number of meals recently at Roaming Harvest and have already become a loyal customer.

Photo Credit: Brian Beckwith

Roaming Harvest offers breakfast and lunch, from 7-3, most days of the week. Their location changes daily, but they’re easy to keep track of as they consistently update Facebook, Twitter, their website with locations and offerings.

Their emphasis is on local, sustainable food from area farms. There are usually three different options for lunch (sometimes two), one of which is always vegetarian. Breakfast typically consists of a breakfast burrito than can be prepared with or without meat. Beverages include Higher Grounds Coffee in the mornings and Northwoods Sodas with lunch. One of my personal favorites is their pork tacos with purple cabbage slaw. And it’s not just the delicious food that brings me back; the proprietors are always friendly and appreciative of your patronage.

Photo Credit: Kim Schwaiger

And since I’m discussing food trucks, or “transient merchants” as the City Commissioners have recently coined them, it’s a prudent time to add my two cents on the controversy surrounding the recent decision to increase fees to local mobile vendors, which goes into effect in September. Apparently the story goes that since these individuals don’t pay rent or property taxes, that it was a good idea to increase the daily fee they must pay from $50 to $100. In the winter months the fee is weekly instead of daily, in case that makes you feel any better.

The fee increase feels punitive and one local vendor already moved her food cart from Traverse City to Grand Rapids, a city that realizes the benefit these businesses bring. But why does the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) think the fee increase is necessary? To protect local restaurants? Do restaurants need protection from food trucks? I can’t see why, restaurants have a host of advantages: larger kitchens, more staff, more space for patrons and storage, the ability to operate during inclement weather. If anything, doesn’t a little healthy competition ultimately benefit us, the consumer? The Cook’s House seems to think so. They’ve actually granted Roaming Harvest permission to set up shop right next to their restaurant one day a week. Let that sink in. One of the best restaurants in TC has allowed a food truck, a direct competitor, to sell food mere feet from the entrance to their restaurant. And why? Because they see the value food trucks add to the community.

Mobile food merchants are a unique addition to our community. They are run by individuals who are entrepreneurs. They increase foot traffic in front of local businesses. They create jobs. It’ll be tragic if they’re priced out of business by City fees. As of this writing, Roaming Harvest has been open 12 days. That’s $600 in fees, which next year will be $1,200. The City of Chicago charges $500 a year (Although, admittedly, Chicago food trucks have other problems, like not being able to sell food within 200 feet of a restaurant). NYC, the uncontested king of street food, charges $2,400 a year, and there’s an incredibly long waiting list to even get a license! A food truck vendor in TC would incur that amount in 24 days. On top of the city

fees, Roaming Harvest

actually does pay rent, for property in Garfield Township. So what was that about evening out the playing field because restaurants pay rent and food trucks don’t? Traverse City just doesn’t seem to get it.

The fee hike was originally only intended to affect vendors in the downtown area when the DDA proposed it to the City Commission. But, when the City Commission approved the increase, it increased fees for vendors in all commercial areas in the City. As a result, there’s been some discussion about changing the fee back to $50/day outside of downtown. In fact, the DDA didn’t realize that the change by the City Commission would even affect the fee in other areas of the City. I guess that’s not their duty (you know, being the Downtown Development Authority). But decreasing the fee outside of downtown and leaving it at $100/day downtown still misses the point. Downtown is the perfect spot for mobile food vendors. There are businesses in areas outside of downtown where these merchants can set up shop, but none as concentrated with people as downtown. Front Street is the prime location. I for one, would love to go for a walk from my downtown office, get some chow from a transient merchant, and then wander around and do some shopping.

For more reading, here are links to the articles that the Record Eagle has recently published on this issue:

DDA Recommends Doubling Peddler Fees

Price to Peddle Goods Go Up

Peddler Fees Revisited