Ken and Beverly, partners since 1984. - Carlington Wilmot By Carlington Wilmot,
Freelance Writer
BEVERLY Warren, 34, and her partner, Ken Grant, 40, were good friends even before they started selling in Papine Square.
Beverly, who hails from St. Andrew and is the more experienced, has been selling in Papine Square since 1984. It was in 1995 that Ken became her partner after giving up his job as a steel worker to get a taste of the market.
"A long time we know one another, from 1984 until now, when my time at work is up I would pass by and spend little time with her," said Ken.
Even though Beverly doesn't enjoy selling in the market anymore, she does not have a choice since she doesn't see herself working for anyone because they cannot afford to pay her.
"I don't really enjoy doing market work because there is no money in it, but I have to do it because there is nothing else there to do," she said.
Ken went into the market business because he didn't like people taking his things on credit and then refusing to pay him.
"This was one of the main reasons why mi give up steel work, but when you a sell in the market no one will come trust off your things," he said.
"The market life is easier and you have less arguments with people, but when you are doing steel work, man owe you, and a them things deh make you and people mouth meet."
At times, when business is slow, they are sometimes forced to reduce the prices of their goods in order to sell something before the end of the day rather than letting their goods spoil.
They sell at the market six days a week except for Sundays and public holidays. Their best selling days are Fridays and Saturdays and on any one of these days the crops that sell the most are tomatoes, onions, cabbage and Irish potatoes.
