KUALA LUMPUR - There's growing outrage in the West following a report that China is re-opening its wet markets. Though erroneous, in the eyes of westerners, these places are inextricably associated with wild animal markets.
Wet markets are commonplace all over Asia, especially in South-East Asia, because consumers know the produce at these places is fresh.The climate in this region necessitates the use of copious amounts of ice to maintain food freshness, and coupled with the use of fresh water to keep the place constantly clean, wet markets can seem a chore to navigate.
In Hong Kong, most wet markets - located on the ground floor of flats - are clean, and they sell an impressive array of Asian seafood.The largest choice of sea food in Malaysia can probably be found at Sabah's markets, which have fishes I've never seen before in peninsula wet markets. Thanks to some bizarre food shows on TV, the perception formed is that Asians consume a lot of exotic meat, which is furthest from the truth. So, likewise, not all westerners eat rabbit meat, pheasants or garden snails, either.
Affluent Asians find supermarkets more comfortable and in line with their lifestyles. Besides, parking is also more organised than at the often-congested wet markets. "Still, that store-based spending is overwhelmingly concentrated in packaged, rather than fresh produce. Foreign retailers that once hoped to dominate China's staple goods sector such as Carrefour SA and Metro AG have struggled and sold out of local ventures - but wet markets are still going strong."
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Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »