OFF HOURS: Jonathan Bender and Gabriel Kuriloff

BSA takes students' fresh-fruit business under its wing

The idea for the business sprouted a year ago when Bender, of Fairfield, Conn., and Kuriloff, of Philadelphia, had a hankering for some really fresh fruit. Seasonal produce was available at major grocery stores, but "I didn't have a car at the time," said Bender, and the supermarkets were quite a hike from College Hill. Although some markets will deliver food to campus, service charges tacked on to the order don't make the option cheap.

What Brown needed, the pair decided, was a convenient, economical way for students to order and pick up fresh fruit and produce on campus. Bender and Kuriloff began to explore what such an effort would require in terms of time and location. They spoke with David Inman, director of student activities, who recommended that they affiliate with Brown Student Agencies (BSA).

Christopher Creed '00.5, who is BSA's president, was interested in the concept and last fall pointed Bender and Kuriloff in the direction of Barrett Hazeltine, engineering professor emeritus, who sits on BSA's Board of Advisers. "He helped us put together a business plan, and we submitted our proposal to BSA," said Kuriloff.

Gretchen Willis, director of University Food Services (UFS) offered the use of UFS space and buying power to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.

Bender and Kuriloff set up shop in the Ivy Room and on the Internet, and have been doing business since early February. "There are days when we have 10 to 15 customers, and we feel we're doing well, but we'll also have a week with only one customer," says Kuriloff. "But that's just part of learning about how to run a business."

Here's how Fruit & Rally works: A customer fills out an order form, available on the Web site and at BSA sites around campus, and either e-mails it back to the business or places it in Fruit & Rally boxes at BSA sites. Kuriloff and Bender compile the orders, which are procured through UFS. It also makes sure the produce meets quality specifications, said Kuriloff. The pair's first order consisted of 81 pounds of clementines, 18 pounds of green grapes, 9 pounds of red grapes, several bags of baby carrots and a bag of mixed salad greens. They saved the first dollar they made.

Customers pick up and pay for their items in the Ivy Room about two days after placing their orders. Fruit & Rally hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-6 p.m.

The young businessmen are eager to please. "We're members of the Brown community, and we want to provide good service," said Bender. On a recent afternoon, a customer came by to pick up her order of baby carrots, green grapes and a cantaloupe. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she asked Bender and Kuriloff whether they ever had pomegranates available. "We can certainly look for them," said Kuriloff. How about kiwi, he was asked. "Definitely look for them next month. If you e-mail us, we'll see what we can come up with and get a price for you."

The business hasn't turned a profit yet, but "our diets have significantly improved," said Bender. "Yeah, my mother would be shocked," quipped Kuriloff.

They'd like to get to the point where there are enough regular customers to sustain a continuously stocked store rather than having to order items in advance.

Then there's the rally they'd love to have on The Green someday. Bender smiles as he explains how the business got its name. "We figured Brown's politically-correct campus meant a rally for every cause," he said, including fruits and veggies, "the most underrepresented food group on campus." - Tracie Sweeney