I am one of the new generation of farmers who turned to organic farming where I and my friends got to know on another from the online platform. Sometimes we went out for the activity that we learned about the source of foods from the garden/farm of our network in order to get familiar to each other. After that, we could order their products via Facebook chat, delivered in a door-to-door service. We trust one another that the products are not contaminated because it’s the commitment we agreed as friends. The delicious taste of organic products that have been tasted after opening the parcel box makes us often unknowingly communicate the message of happiness of eating on the online world from time to time. Until the expansion of the need for safe food products in the group led us to gather as the "Alternative Market" which is another way for consumers to buy safe products with confidence. The "Pun Yhu Pun Kin Market", is established to promote the eating habit that consumers can be aware of the food source, so that people can have a meaningful consumption without neglecting the environment at the same time.
Being aware of the food source ... is interesting in the sense that before vendors can sell products in this alternative market, they must go through careful selection procedures. Our market has 6 product standards covering consumer goods such as eco-agricultural, livestock, organic aquatic, safe processed food, safe cosmetics, and fair-trade categories. The provider must write an application, inform details of the team of the market about the origin of the product, starting from the cultivation process, harvesting, transporting to hygienic processing. Notice on the paper may not be enough. We also ask to visit the actual production site to ensure that we "help each other" to act as a selection of safe products according to standards to consumers. Those who select people with experience in producing the same product. Any selected farm, garden, ranch, kitchen, or home will get to communicate via Facebook page.
Knowing the vendor ... If you are still not confident in communicating online, we would like to invite consumers to carry a basket or a cloth bag to walk around and explore the atmosphere of this market on every last Sunday of the month surrounded yourself by a lovely atmosphere with the live music played along. In case you are interested, you are more than welcome to acquire the information from any sellers in a “friendly” manner. Some vendors are owners of plantations or farm animals. Some people are processors who use raw materials from the Pun Yhu Pun Kin’s farmers and process them into finely processed products, resulting in delicious and safe products unlike the franchise stores.
Eat meaningfully ... not just trade in products that are safe from informal farms, but we try to create way of self-reliance and finding a living that does not take exploit the nature. As long as safe food parents walk with their sons and daughters to buy products on the market regularly, we have dropped the valuable seed to grow in the next generation. This area of food sharing and our ideas have a scene in front of a market without chemicals, while the backdrop is a combination of organic farming. That includes vegetable plots, compost piles, ducks, chickens and large trees as a shade covering the corridor to invite everyone to experience.
Consuming without neglecting the environment ... when the coconut water that was sold in front of the market was sucked through the use of the straw made of reed tree until the coconut shell left, we want to encourage consumers to throw away the compost in the garden. From the thick coconut shell, the shape changes back to become a black humus with a soft, smooth texture that is a delicacy of soil microorganisms. As with all food scraps and branches of crops that we do not eat, all of them can be used to make fertilizer. Since the plastic bags cannot be decomposed, we therefore ask to leave them in the separated garbage we provided. Interestingly, plastic waste is much less left over compared with the general market. It means that the idea that we are trying to promote has been absorbed. absorbing the ideas that we shared. That campaign is not possible. However, plastic is still useful to humans inevitably. The separation of waste at this market will cause the plastic to be taken to the point of buying garbage to recycle rather than being thrown to the ocean at the end of the day.
And now that we have time to sit and rearrange plastic bags, egg boxes, plastic and paper that consumers like to bring back to use again. The pre-order opening of the product is about to start again and we are preparing to check the refrigerator at home to stock up on the safe ingredients for monthly consumption. From the experience, we have learned that the meat-based raw materials that meet Pun Yhu Pun Kin’s standards can be maintained in the freeze for more than 3 months. For organic vegetables, leafy vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks, while head plants such as carrots and beetroot can be stored for 3 months. As for the fruit, the storage duration in the refrigerator depends on the type of fruit. But all types of all living things that come from the selection of Pun Yhu Pun Kin Market tend to have longer storage period than those available in fresh market or general supermarket. Although the electricity bill for the stock food in the refrigerator purchased on a monthly basis may increase but the travel costs to the fresh market frequently, like before, have decreased surely. Being able to get better health and eating delicious food by yourself is a worthwhile way of changing life. You may have to plan ahead and keep up with the news of our alternative markets. We hope that every consumer who wants to access safe food will have a better quality of life without losing the direction of health care. Good health starts with food without chemicals. The proportion of good eating will not make you obese or lack nutrients. If you have been a person who doesn't like to cook, but once you have tried to come to the kitchen with the ingredients from us, you will find hidden culinary abilities in you. Now grab your bag/basket and come see us!
Author
Noon – Natkanag Prichaborisutkul
Farmer/ Safe Food Producer/
Organic Soap and Shampoo Producer/ Self-managed Trainer