Sour grapes for fruit van at show

A COUPLE who have been bringing their business to Bundaberg shows for more than 30 years have been shut down by inspectors.

The council has said no to Terry Bertalli’s fruit salad and juice stall. . Picture: Darryn Smith

A COUPLE who have been bringing their business to Bundaberg shows for more than 30 years say a few rotten apples at the council have spoiled their opinion of the region, after inspectors shut them down.

Terry Bertalli and Velma Lia were dumbstruck when council employees told them to shut down their fruit salad stall yesterday, saying they did not have the required permits.

“I have been doing this for 50 years and have never been shut down,” Mr Bertalli said.

“We brought the fruit salad here because we heard that Bundaberg has a really high obesity rate, so we thought we were doing the right thing.”

Mr Bertalli said new legislation meant he needed permits in every state.

“We are headed to Rockhampton so I was going to get one there and just have a temporary one in Bundaberg,” he said.

“The council came by yesterday (Wednesday) and said we would get a $500 fine if we didn’t have the registration by (yesterday), but they wouldn’t give us one because it’s a holiday. They could have let us know (earlier). I could understand if there was something wrong with the van but it’s just paperwork.”

Mr Bertalli, who also runs a chip van, said he thought the council would want to promote healthy eating. The chip van is still running.

“They could have made a bit of an allowance. We would have been happy to get the temporary permit but they wouldn’t help us,” he said.

Ms Lia said she worked on the fruit salad for three hours before they were shut down.

“We bought all of the fruit locally and I started the salad at 5am, and now it’s all gone to waste,” she said.

“I just burst into tears. I am really hurt. It’s dreadful to lose a full day like this.”

The pair said Bundaberg residents were big fans of their fruit salads and smoothies.

“We have had people coming up and knocking on the van asking us to open,” Ms Lia said.

“The man from the council really could have been more helpful. We have been all around Australia and never had a problem.”

Originally published as Sour grapes for fruit van at show