Familial Commitment

       During the summer, it is not uncommon for me to find myself at a farmer's market. In my mind, they are the epitome of summer. Standing in the bright sun, making selections from the peak of the year's fruit and vegetables is guaranteed to make for a perfect day. 

In addition to the physical experience, the unparalleled service one encounters at these establishments deserves recognition. The family-owned farmers market I frequent ensures that each person who steps into their tent leaves with everything they were in search of, plus more. Over time, they learn the names of all locals and treat them as if they are their own family.

After my first several visits, there was a particular employee who I grew accustomed to seeing on my trips. The grandson of the market's founder, the ten-year-old boy spent his summer helping his parents and relatives run the daily operations of the market. Barely tall enough to see over the stands of stacked fruit, he arrived at the market each day in their adult-sized branded shirt that was just barely small enough for him to wear without tripping on it. 

Each time I approached the market, he would meet me at the entrance, eager to find out what I would be in search of that day. After learning my objectives, he would bounce around the market, showing me to each item, and teaching me about the qualities that would make for the best fruit or vegetable. Being involved in the market his entire life, he was highly knowledgeable and always provided me with the best assistance and some of the best fruit I have ever had. 

It was not until later that I realized how impressive this young boy's job was. As a child, I never would have been able to do what he did. He possessed a level of responsibility that was uncommon in any child. Each day, people arrived at the market, and he was eager to help them and knew that they were relying on him, even though he was so much younger than them. He confidently provided each and every person that entered the market with tips and lessons that most adults would not know. 

Additionally, he knew how to handle the complaints of visitors better than I ever could. One day, when he was helping me pick out a perfect watermelon for my family's Fourth of July barbecue, a woman arrived, complaining that they were sold out of local corn that day. Calmly, he stepped away from the table of melons and explained to the woman that because of the holiday, they were unable to meet the demand for the product that day. Almost immediately, the woman's anger subsided, and he convinced her to buy different vegetables instead. As an adult, I do not think I could have handled the situation with the same confidence and composure as this child.

At the end of each visit, the child leads each customer to the cash register, where the produce can be weighed, and the customer can pay. While there was a list of prices for each product, the amount of time spent in the market allowed him to memorize the cost of each product and was able to compute the price of each item in less than a minute. In all my time, I never once witnessed him make an error. He was equally knowledgeable and, quite possibly, more efficient than his adult counterparts at the market. 

Finally, the child's expertise regarding business was far superior to any knowledge on the matter that I will ever hold. With each customer, he was able to utilize his facts and marketing skills to introduce and convince visitors to buy new items or items that were not on their initial grocery list. Truly, even as a child, he functioned as the wheels of the market. His energy and commitment to his family kept the spirit of the market alive. 

No matter the time of day I enter the market, he is eager to provide me with assistance and his expertise. It is not often that you encounter a person, let alone a child, with such drive and commitment to what they do. I will always be glad to accept his assistance, as his ability to successfully take on this adult role at such a young age is something that I continue to find inspiring in my adult life. Seeing him, I hope I will feel the same about my future endeavors as he feels about his current role.