At the Nausori Municipal Market, a modest table of leafy greens and root crops tells the story of survival, faith and hard-won independence for vendor Alesi Nairokowate. Originally from Tabalei Village in Magodro district, Ba, Alesi has spent nearly five years turning produce into a reliable income after rising living costs pushed her out of a purely domestic life and into the bustle of market trade.
Alesi’s move into vending deepened after her husband — who had served in the church — passed away, leaving her to shoulder family responsibilities. Now a grandmother of three, she says the weekly returns from her stall help cover household expenses, village obligations and her grandchildren’s education. “I had to take care of the family,” she said, describing the shift that reshaped her role and her sense of independence.
Her working week starts early and is carefully budgeted. On Monday she spends about $500 on produce and aims to turn that stock over in two days. From that outlay she typically nets around $300 in profit — money she uses to keep the household afloat. Her table is filled with vudi, ginger, dragon fruit, guavas, cucumbers, lemons, turmeric, chillies and taro, with taro, vudi and lemons among her best sellers.
Alesi’s supply chain stretches across several provinces. She sources goods from growers in Naitasiri, from Dawasamu in Tailevu and from Vatukarasa in Nadroga; those suppliers know her schedule and meet her early orders. On some mornings she sets out as early as 4am to meet farmers at their plots and ensure fresh produce reaches Nausori in time for the morning rush. To stay close to the market during the week she lives with relatives in Dawasamu and travels home when she can.
The work is not without its challenges, but Alesi credits her resilience to faith and gratitude. “I’m grateful to God. When there are challenges, He guides me through it. He gives me the heart to do my work diligently with a thankful heart,” she said. Her outlook helps her weather slow days and long hours, and it underpins the encouragement she offers other women weighing market vending as an option.
“There is nothing to be embarrassed about when selling at the market,” Alesi tells those who hesitate. She points to the practical benefits — immediate cash flow, predictable daily sales when goods are in demand — and urges others to consider vending as a way to earn and to provide for families. At Nausori Municipal Market, her table is more than a business; it is a lifeline for a family and a reminder that small-scale trading remains a vital part of community livelihoods across Fiji.
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