KUCHING: It may have been a hot and bothered last few days but here at the Seven Mile Market, despite the hot weather, it has been business as usual.
As it was Awal Muharram (Islamic New Year), a public holiday, the market was filled with people buying vegetables and fruits.
Chong Shal Joo, a vendor who has been operating at the market for about 20 years, selling fresh spinach and also yam stem vegetables (batang pokok keladi) said that the weather has not impacted his business.
“The weather is not affecting much. It’s just another day for me, doing my sales in the morning.
“Yes, a few days ago and last week, we all felt the extreme heat but life goes on as usual here. I have my vegetables to sell to customers,” he said.
The 56-year-old also said his prices have been the same and would only change if supplies are decreasing, meaning if there is less vegetables to sell, the price would increase.
He said to keep the vegetable fresh, all he has to do is sprinkle water so that it will not wilt under the heat.
Similarly, 64-year-old Sidod Siteh also said the weather has had no effect on her sales.
She is selling various vegetables such as aubergine, lemon grass, gingers, galangals, yam and yam leaves.
“The price of my vegetables is still the same. For a bunch of three aubergines, its RM5 only, same goes for my lemon grasses.
“Most of the vegetables sold here comes from my own farm but I also help to sell those from others.
“The hot weather is nothing to be concerned about because it is an everyday thing that we experience here. Maybe it keeps customers from coming but still, I am able to make some sales here,” said Sidod.
As for Ahlan, she can feel the heat, but people still flock to her stall filled with fresh, green vegetables.
She said only supply and demand of the vegetables affect prices of certain vegetables.
“I still maintain the prices here like, RM5 for a bunch of five lemon grass stalks and RM2 for a cucumber, a tomato and others. Some depend on their weight.
“The heat does get to everyone here but it is nothing to be worried about. I am still able to make sales and I am quite happy about it,” she said.
