Urban Governance and the Regulation of Street Food Vending In Latin America

Street vending is a common feature of many Latin American cities, which represents an important source of income, goods, and employment for large swaths of the urban population in cities around the region. The different ways in which street commerce has been governed have had effects on working conditions and the organization of street vendors as well as on the way that consumers perceive and interact with these spaces. In spite of the economic, nutritional, and social importance of street foods, there is surprisingly little literature on the impact of urban governance policies on street food vendors and consumers in Latin America. In order to address this gap, we draw on ethnographic research conducted with street food vendors in Mexico City, a metropolis where street food is particularly prevalent and important in social and economic terms. We review literature on the governance of street vending in Latin America in order to point to key tendencies, challenges, and conflicts that have emerged throughout the twentieth century. We then ask: What are the implications of street vending governance for the sale and consumption of foods? In order to answer this question, we draw on research with street food vendors, in both street markets and stalls in Mexico City, in order to understand the effects of governance strategies on vendors and consumers. In general terms, we suggest that foods have material and symbolic qualities that differentiate them from other types of goods that are sold on the streets.