Wet markets, common across Asia, are traditional, often open-air or covered marketplaces specializing in fresh, perishable goods. They are best for buying locally sourced fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, and poultry, often at lower prices than supermarkets. The name derives from the frequently washed floors, which keeps the produce and, in some cases, live animal stalls sanitary.
A wet market is essentially a food market that sells fresh produce, poultry, seafood and pork as opposed to “dry” markets, which offer packaged or frozen meats. Just how fresh are we talking? It is possible to choose a fish and for the vendor to kill and scale it before you take it home.
It is also increasingly common to find trendy produce, popularly featured in Western dishes, in wet markets – often at much cheaper prices than at supermarkets. “A lot of people have this misconception that wet markets only have local ingredients.
Clothing and accessories are common buys at street markets. You can find cheap clothes like t-shirts and dresses, and also accessories like hats and jewelry. Tourists like to buy handicrafts and souvenirs at street markets. They can find things like pottery and paintings, which make good gifts or decorations.
A wet market is a marketplace where meat, aquatic food, and live animals are butchered and sold at open-air stalls (Nadimpalli & Pickering, 2020). Animals are often slaughtered on-site, and the meat is hung in the open air without refrigeration. Water and ice are typically used to keep the food and meat fresh.
Shopping at a WET MARKET in the Philippines' Bulacán Province
What items are in the wet market?
A wet market is a type of marketplace where fresh produce, live animals, and freshly killed meat are sold, distinguishing it from dry markets that offer non-perishable goods.
Apples, pears, cranberries, grapefruit, oranges, pineapple, tangerine, Vegetables – Choose the wet ones. Here is a list to get you started. Cucumber, Tomato, Squash, Radish, Peppers, Bell Peppers, Onions, Jicama, Garlic, Cabbage, Brussel Sprouts, Fennel & Leek.
There are five main types of markets: consumer, business, institutional, government and global. Consumer markets offer freedom over product design and have a large and diverse customer base.
The best-selling market stall products are often hot food/drinks, handmade goods (jewelry, crafts, soaps, candles, art), vintage/second-hand items, plants/flowers, and seasonal goods like Christmas decorations, driven by high demand, uniqueness, and impulse buys, with personalized items, organic produce, pet supplies, unique tech accessories, and natural cosmetics also proving popular across different market types. Success depends on market type (farmers', craft, festive) and target audience, so researching your specific market is key.
The "3-3-3 Rule" for groceries isn't one single definition, but usually refers to planning around three main food types (proteins, carbs, fats/veggies) for balanced meals or a variation like the "3-3-2-2-1 Method," focusing on 3 veggies, 3 proteins, 2 grains, 2 fruits, and 1 dip/spread for simple, balanced shopping, helping to avoid meal planning ruts and create variety with minimal effort.
Most agree that spending only $300 monthly for two people is possible, but it's a big challenge. You'd have to focus on cheap foods like rice, beans, pasta and potatoes to make it work. You'd also need to buy in bulk and cook everything from scratch.
Wet markets can be categorized according to their ownership structure (privately owned, state-owned, or community-owned), scale (wholesale or retail), and produce (fruits, vegetables, slaughtered meat, or live animals).
Wet markets have been implicated in multiple zoonotic outbreaks, including COVID-19. They are also a conduit for legal and illegal trade in wildlife, which threatens thousands of species.
Common markets include: the ASEAN Economic Community, the Eurasian Economic Community, the European Union, the East African Economic Community, the Caribbean Common Market and the Central American Common Market.
5C Analysis is a marketing framework to analyze the environment in which a company operates. It can provide insight into the key drivers of success, as well as the risk exposure to various environmental factors. The 5Cs are Company, Collaborators, Customers, Competitors, and Context.
Wet foods are made by mixing recipe ingredients together and cooking them within the hermetically sealed can, tray or pouch. The food in the container then remains sterile for the shelf life of the product or until opened. These products can be in the form of chunks in gravy, sauce or jelly, loaf or mousse.
A peanut butter and jelly (PB&J) sandwich is the food associated with adding 33 minutes to your healthy life, according to a University of Michigan study using the Health Nutritional Index (HENI), which measures the minutes of healthy life gained or lost per serving. The study found that nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and seafood add minutes, while processed items like hot dogs subtract them, with PB&J being a standout for its positive impact due to healthy fats and antioxidants.
