Elliott Johnson is a familiar sight in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood, where he sells watermelons from his truck on Third Street. Johnson’s family has been in the watermelon business for years, and he continues the tradition in the city, where he has become a beloved presence.

A Family Tradition

Johnson’s father, who moved to San Francisco from Texas, started the watermelon business, and Elliott would often help him sell the fruit in the city’s public-housing complexes. Although his father has passed away, Johnson keeps the tradition alive, using the same supplier at Mayflower Farms in northern California.

Johnson’s love for the watermelon business is evident, and he enjoys interacting with his customers, many of whom have known him since he was a child. He also has a devoted clientele, and his watermelons are a staple in the Bayview neighborhood during the summer months.

A Labor of Love

For Johnson, selling watermelons is not just a business, but a labor of love. He works as a cement mason for most of the year but dedicates his summers to selling watermelons. Johnson’s father always said that a man should have two things: a truck and a house, and Elliott has both, thanks to his hard work and dedication to the family business.

Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.