Singapore Stories - Wet market, a dying business in Singapore

Hi fellow Steemians, I am starting a new series today and it will be focused on topics that are closed to my Singaporean heart. I read an article today on Channel NewsAsia and it provoked some thoughts within me.

A fish seller at a wet market stall

The wet market is a place where many Singaporeans will visit for fresh food. You can find all sort of meats, fruits, vegetables and other cooking ingredients at there. The food there are typically cheaper and fresher than what you can find in supermarkets. Also, it is usually near a hawker centre (another topic which I will cover in my future posts) so you can always swing by for an affordable and sumptuous breakfast after shopping. I still remember when I was young, my grandma would always bring me along to the wet market in Hougang/Lor Ah Soo. At that age, I hated it when she brought me to the fishmonger because the smell was the worst. Thinking back, I think it was all worth it as I would get to eat fresh steamed fish on the same day evening after the trip to the fishmonger :). My favorite was the fruits stall. It is probably due to the vivid and varied colors that I can see there.

Fruit stall at a wet market

Today the wet market business is gradually replaced by supermarkets. With technological advancements, supermarkets are gradually able to provide food that are equally fresh and sometimes equally cheap. Supermarkets also open for longer hours so many working Singaporeans who cannot find time to go to the wet market (which typically opens only in the morning) will opt to make their purchases at supermarkets. However, there is one thing that supermarkets can never be better than wet market, the relationship that was built. I recall that my grandma used to know almost all the stall owners at the wet market and vice versa. Very often, she was able to get some good bargains due to the relationship. This is something that will never be found in supermarket.

With Singaporeans getting busier over the years, I foresee that more people will choose to buy food from supermarkets and online stores. Eventually, there will be very low demand for wet market. It is a dying trade and I urge all younger Singaporeans who have never been to the wet market to visit it one day. Experience the difference between the wet markets and supermarkets and share your thoughts here with me.

For non-Singaporeans, you might know us as a financial hub and a regional healthcare center. And you might only know tourist hotspots like Sentosa, MBS, Singapore Flyer, the Zoo, Night Safari and etc. These are just things that we are known for to appeal to the usual tourists. If you are those who really like to experience the local life where ever you visit, then you must visit a local wet market to witness our cultural diversity. I recommend going to the Tekka wet market as it is one of the largest in Singapore.

Thanks for reading! This is the first entry in my "Singapore Stories" series and I will continue to write more about Singapore as part of my commitment to #teamsingapore.