Wet Markets – A Lasting Tradition?

I’ve wanted to post on Wet Markets for awhile but hadn’t visited one. Luckily over the break I did get to see the Chinatown Wet Market. I hope to visit a few more before we leave because they are an extraordinary look into the history of “hawking” food and how local markets were king. The “Wet” in the Wet Markets refers to the floor because as vendors “prepare” the meats, fish, fruits, etc. and everything falls to the floor and it’s constantly being sprayed down.

However, our Chinatown tour guide, Helena, said that most of the fruits, eggs, etc. are imported, most being 95%. So, what is the significance of these markets – are they needed or is Cold Storage, Carrefour and Jason’s the end-all-be-all? It’s a similar argument to the idea of farmer’s markets in the U.S. and haven’t Farmer’s Markets really just become a Sunday morning tradition? Since the end of November I’ve seen newspaper articles on this debate at least every other week. One article was titled: “Wet Markets: Saved but for How Long?” – The Straits Times. Some city planners want to get rid of the markets and replace them with supermarkets but the opponents note that many of these big stores create a “class structure.” In a Wet Market everyone is the same, the signs are just pictures of the foods (no words; no language barriers – see the picture below) and you can buy as much or as little as you want.
Another interesting thing about these Wet Markets is the LIVE animals (i.e. Turtles, Frogs, Fish, etc.) ready for the slaughter. Is it so bad for us to know where our food comes from? See video below (no killing filmed)…

Additionally, you get to see skills, expertly developed over generations, exhibited daily. At the Wet Market we visited we saw a woman expertly cut out the meat of a Jack Fruit. See video of that below.

Will public outcry be enough? One stall owner, age 65, says none of his kids want to take over his “business.” Many of the people he works with are in the same situation; the next generation doesn’t want to take them on. But as it stands the NEA (National Environment Agency) still manages 109 markets and hawker centers – the organization has already upgraded 84 of those. So, Wet Markets are safe, for now. But, in my opinion, unless the next generation wants to take them on, they may become just another tourist attraction with people like me taking pictures of live turtles and frogs ready for the slaughter!