Like a wholesome scene in a Norman Rockwell painting, Erik Holsather, 23, sells produce and caramel corn from his quaint but sturdy homemade powder-blue cart on the sidewalk in front of the Alki Homestead restaurant.

Unlike a flat canvas however, Holsather is multidimensional and comes prepared. His business, called Erik's Alki Produce Cart, is topped off with an umbrella roof for rain or sun.

The backseat of his car is filled with boxes of apples, pears, carrots, watermelons and avocados purchased from wholesaler Charlie's Produce. A senior at the University of Washington, he is majoring in business administration with an entrepreneurial option.

Holsather slapped one of his fresh watermelons like burping a baby to confirm that it was fresh.

"If it has a dull sound it's not good anymore," he said. "Another method for freshness is just to sample a piece of fruit."

He would like his business to one day pay his tuition, but for now he is satisfied that it pays the rent on his south Shoreline apartment.

Holsather chose to locate his business in Alki both for its scenic beauty and lack of grocery stores. While he seems more focused on success than many his age, he is also a normal young adult. He enjoys Monty Python and admits he has been distracted by his girlfriend and arrives a little late to set up.

He is always searching for new products he thinks could fly off his modest-size shelves, like loaves of bread, and milk, if he can figure out a practical method of refrigeration. But he does draw a line.

"People walk by all the time asking if I sell cigarettes," he said. "That would send a very interesting message, 'Buy my organic fruit and vegetables, oh, and a pack of cigarettes.' They sometimes give me a dirty look when they don't see cigarettes on my cart."

Generally his business is well-received.

"I'm shocked at how supportive people here have been," he said. "They'll offer to watch my stand if I need a bathroom break. And seniors say they appreciate my saving them a long bus trip up the hill to the supermarket when they just need some basics."

While his customers have made an extra effort to support his stand, so has his mentor on this project, Alki business owner Tom Lin, 48, who signed the required paperwork to permit the produce cart to stand in front of his popular restaurant. Lin, a landlord to several Alki businesses, does not charge Holsather rent.

"Erik is different," said Lin with a twinkle in his eye, acknowledging he sees a little of himself in Holsather when he too was in his early 20s and just starting out.

"I want him to have a shot at success."

Nearly four blocks northeast of the cart on Alki Avenue, Wheel Fun rents out bicycles on a large lot, while The End 107.7 radio station broadcasts progressive rock live from an adjacent building. Lin owns both properties. The tenants are seasonal, and vacate by October. Lin and Holsather plan to operate a pumpkin patch business on the lot, and will hire people to supervise children to carve and paint their pumpkins in the building. That means the cart, which operates from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day but Wednesday, will soon be dismantled.

The cart will hibernate until spring, but Holsather will continue to sell fruits, vegetables and other goodies from a permanent booth on the Wheel Fun lot, in addition to pumpkins.

After Halloween, the pumpkins will yield to Christmas trees, like another scene by Norman Rockwell.

Steve Shay can be reached at 783-1244.