The relevance of traditional wet markets in modern Singapore.

• Main Author: Suen, Grace Mann Ruey.
• Other Authors: Geoffrey Benjamin
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities::History::Asia::Singapore
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/15363
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In modern day Singapore, rapid economic growth and urbanization have transformed the way people organize their lives and this has influenced food consumption patterns. Fresh food retail in Singapore has changed since the 1950s, and the wet market is no longer the only source of fresh food. The aim of this paper is to find out the relevance of wet markets to Singaporeans in the modern context by studying the meanings attached to shopping in such an environment. Views from the government, the older generation Singaporeans and the younger generation are examined to understand how the wet market is socially constructed by different actors. The paper will touch on the interactions in the wet market, how fresh food knowledge is maintained and disseminated by different people, as well as how the wet market has changed in its appearance and organization to meet the needs of modern society.