If you’ve missed the cries of “I have oranges and bananas! I have mangoes! I have nice peaches!” you’re not the only one. Mr. Okra, produce-vendor-turned-icon, has been stuck without his truck. A benefit to raise money for a new truck or repairs to his old one hopes to bring the smiling vendor and his brightly painted truck back on the streets of New Orleans.

On Thursday at 6 p.m., d.b.a. will host a benefit to buy Mr. Okra a new truck. Bywater-based bands Morning 40 Federation, Happy Talk Band, Guitar Lightnin’ Lee, King James and My Graveyard Jaw will be there, pitching in stage time in honor of their favorite produce man.

Featured in the Morning 40 Federation’s 2006 music video “Intro” and occasionally on WWOZ’s A.J. Rodrigue’s Wednesday night show, Mr. Okra (born Arthur Robinson) is well-loved in New Orleans. Unfortunately, the produce vendor hasn’t been able to sell his produce in New Orleans neighborhoods since his engine broke.

But that didn’t stop him and his truck from going to Jazz Fest. He had it towed to the Fair Grounds, where d.b.a. owner Tom Thayer asked him why he hadn’t seen him around. When Mr. Okra explained his truck was down, Thayer organized an effort to get Mr. Okra’s truck up and running.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz2K8YPSMy8[/youtube]
“We all care about him,” says Thayer. “We just want to help.” Thayer also contacted Dr. Bob, the truck’s painter, and T.G. Herrington, documentary director of Mr. Okra and bands from the Ninth Ward—Mr. Okra’s primary market.

The benefit is also an opportunity to see the Morning 40 Federation, who have only occasionally played together since they officially broke up in 2009. “I’m excited for the 40s,” said Georgia Boxer, 21, an employee of Dirty Coast Press. “I just love their funny, brutally honest lyrics and the sound of the whole band.”

Tickets are $10. There will be posters and t-shirts, which Mr. Okra will sign. All proceeds go directly to Mr. Okra’s truck repairs or a brand new truck.