A FEW WORDS ABOUT OPERATING LICENSES FOR FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SHOPS – FRUIT SHOPS
A greengrocer’s is a shop that sells fresh or preserved fruit and vegetables (canned fruit or vegetables, frozen vegetables, etc.). Fruit and vegetable shops are also permitted to sell eggs.
A fruit and vegetable shop is a store that sells only fruit, fresh or preserved (canned, etc.), nuts, and eggs.
It is permitted to operate more than one store of the type referred to in this article in the same premises, in such a way that they constitute a single store, which will include as many departments as there are types of stores operating in the same premises (mixed store), provided that each section employs separate staff.
They will have the following spaces:
Sales area (mainly store) of sufficient capacity, depending on the store’s customer traffic, in such a way as to ensure comfortable customer circulation and easy cleaning, and in any case not less than 15 square meters.
Storage space, proportional to the commercial activity of the store. Storage space is not necessary in small stores with an area of 20 square meters, if they are single-purpose, or 40 square meters, if they are mixed-use.
Staff toilets. The above areas shall be separated from each other by walls or other solid structures that are easy to clean and do not provide a breeding ground for mice, cockroaches, etc.
The items for sale shall be neatly arranged inside the store. It is prohibited to display the above items outside the building line, on the grass or on the sidewalk, with the exception of vegetables and fruit that are eaten after peeling, which may be displayed outside the greengrocer’s shop, occupying a space of up to 1 m from the building line, provided that this does not conflict with the relevant provisions of laws, decrees, etc.
Sacks and all types of containers, boxes, etc., containing foodstuffs shall not be placed directly on the floor, but on wooden platforms at least 0.30 m high and at a sufficient distance from the walls to allow adequate ventilation.
The paper used to wrap food that is eaten as is shall be unused, white, and perfectly clean, and if the food contains a high percentage of moisture, it shall be waterproof. To separate this paper from the bundle to which it belongs, a suitable finger wiper shall be used, i.e., a clean sponge, natural or synthetic (foam), placed in a suitable holder with an appropriate amount of clean water. A finger wiper shall be placed near each roll of wrapping paper used. Wetting the finger with saliva to separate the paper from the roll is prohibited.
All areas of the stores referred to in this article, as well as furniture, refrigerators, tools, utensils, etc., shall be kept in good condition and perfectly clean. The tools, utensils, and appliances used for various food handling operations shall be washed daily with hot water and soap or another suitable and hygienically acceptable detergent. For this purpose, the store shall have a sink (which may also be used for washing hands) and a hot water supply (water heater or, in small stores, an electric kettle with a pot).
Food vendors shall be healthy and perfectly clean and shall wear a white or light-colored clean shirt. The Health Service may require shops covered by this article to hire a cashier if it considers that their customer traffic warrants such a measure.
