If you are in or visiting Patong, you may know the place called Banzaan Fresh Market near Jungceylon shopping arcade. That market is certified as clean and tidy by the Thai Ministry of Public Health and Commerce. For those who have not been there, our reporter went to inspect for you:
These organic fresh vegetables and fruits are produced from Phuket and other provinces from all regions of Thailand. They are made available at the local fresh market of Banzaan in the busy tourist location of Patong. The next corner is designated for sea food and meat.
Rungruedee Panalee, a fruit stall operator, said she has been selling fruits for ten years. She admits that as Patong has grown and developed due to tourism, she has to improve herself, and the stall, to attract international shoppers. She stresses that sellers here must be sincere and honest to clients.
(lady): Im always honest to my customers, foreigners or Thais. I always serve with a smile and honesty. My weighing machine is also accurate. The goods here are in good quality which customers can choose, for supreme and medium grade products.
Another seller, Mongkol Sarncharoen, had similar philosophy He said:
He selects only fresh food to put on sale at his stall. He has many regular foreign customers. His weighing machine is also accurate. His policy is not to exploit consumers. Banzaan comes from a Chinese word meaning market.
All 214 stalls of products in the Banzaan fresh market are especially selected for their high quality to serve consumers, including international tourists. Just recently the market was selected by the Thai Ministry of Commerce to be awarded as an outstanding market for cleanliness or sanitation. It aims at encouraging others to carry out good practice for cleanliness as well as protecting consumers rights.
The Banzaan fresh market is in a new building and facilities. It has been operating for three years under private management which Patong Municipality just oversees, to ensure that operators keep strictly to sanitation rules. The Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukhaban however insists that the private operator is doing a good job on sanitation and tidiness.
Many expat residents also shop here, he said. Banzaan fresh market is one of several fresh markets in Phuket which can ensure shoppers of hygiene and safety.
