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South End produce market opened by young retailer

Print | Comments () Posted by Your Town October 3, 2012 10:17 AM

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When South End pedestrians peek through the window of the new Snap Top Market on Columbus Avenue, they see neatly arranged pyramids of Bartlett, Green Anjou, and Star Crimson pears. Apples such as Honey Crisp, Cortland, and McIntosh are piled nearby. Owner Steve Napoli is the person who stacks the fruit, helps customers, and works as cashier. The merchant is a solo act, but he’s not worried. At 26, Napoli is already well trained and experienced in the business.

He was raised working in his family’s Idylwilde Farms in Acton. At 11, he accompanied his father, David, on predawn runs to the New England Produce Center in Chelsea. David Napoli is the youngest of the three brothers to run the farm and market started by Steve Napoli’s grandfather. “I learned everything from my dad,” says Steve Napoli, who worked there for years with his brother and cousins. He later became the produce buyer for their store.

Read the rest of this Boston Globe story here.