SALEM, OR – Salem could be on the verge of joining the street food craze.

At a meeting Monday, the council approved changes in city code to ease restrictions on mobile food vendors. The council’s action strikes down regulations that had banned groups of food vendors from gathering on private property. It also loosened restrictions how long food trucks could stay at one location.

“I think this is the right thing to do. We have government barriers keeping these businesses from operating,” said Salem City Councilor Diana Dickey. “This is only going to enhance our food culture.”

The change in the code is effective immediately. Mobile food vendors say it could clear the way for food “pods,” similar to those found in the Portland area, to pop up in Salem.

Richard Foote, a representative of the Salem Food Truck Association, said food vendors were already discussing gathering in groups for “food truck rallies” this summer.

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