The Honesty Vegetable Store – Can It Work?

I recently read about a unique vegetable stall that is designed to basically run itself. The concept reminded me of something called the Honesty Bar, a concept that is used in some hotels. Both are a great idea, but would they work in the real world? Malla Reddy of Lakshmipur village has a good idea but is it practical?

Malla Reddy is a farmer in Lakshmipur village in Telangana and he had the idea of an honesty vegetable shop. He leaves produce on this stall for his customers to buy. He himself then goes to work his fields. Customers can come, pick what they want and make payments via digital means or by putting cash into a box he keeps there. This works on the principle that his customers are honest enough to pay for whatever they take. It also is based on the trust Malla Reddy has in his customers and their integrity.

Reddy had this idea when the pandemic forced the closure of the school where he worked. He returned to his farms and decided to grow and sell vegetables. However he found that he couldn’t work the fields and tend to the shop at the same time, so he hit on this unique way to run his vegetables stall. He leaves his fresh produce on his cart along with a rate list and people can buy what they want – not just during the day but at night as well.

I read about ‘honesty bars’ in novels as well as the hotel descriptions/websites. In small establishments such as bed & breakfast places, proprietors don’t have the manpower to attend to a bar. The small size of the establishment would mean only a few guests which wouldn’t justify hiring staff for the bar. So they have an honesty bar along with drinks, accompaniments and maybe a bar blender. Some snacks may also be kept alongside the bar in a pantry or fridge for guests to help themselves.

Patrons would make themselves a drink, even make themselves a cocktail as and when required. A rate list and box are kept at the bar so guests can see how much they have to pay and do so. They could place the money in the box or keep a tab which can be settled along with the final bill. Since there is no human attendance required, there is one less person to pay and so the prices of the drinks can be kept lower. This is convenient for the proprietor as well as the guest. The guest gets to use a service that would otherwise be unavailable and the proprietor is able to provide a better experience for the guest without extra cost or effort.

In COVID times, establishments such as the honesty bar or the honesty vegetables stall assume even greater significance. At a time when person to person contact needs to be minimized, such shops can be a great idea. Also, the timings of the store don’t have to be curtailed. Such stores, since they preclude human supervision, can remain open day or night. People can pick up stuff to buy at any time that is convenient for them, or if something is required urgently at odd times.

Trust however is an issue. Could shop owners repose that much faith in customers? What is the guarantee that people won’t simply pick up stuff without paying for it? After all, we don’t stop at traffic lights or obey other traffic rules unless we feel that we could get caught and fined/harassed. The honesty vegetable store seems to work in that one corner of Telangana for the time being and I'm sure we all wish Malla Reddy every success. However, I doubt that India is ready for an honesty stall/ shop of any kind just yet.