Vendors at 'Talat Or Tor Kor' say high rents force them to charge more for their goods, writes Sombat Raksakul
It has been overshadowed by the popular Chatuchak Weekend Market, and the Marketing Organisation for Farmers' market is often ignored in tourist brochures.
But the market opposite Chatuchak on Kamphaeng Phet road is well known among food lovers, restaurant chefs and culinary experts.
One of Thailand's most famous chefs, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, regularly shops there. He usually buys vegetables and fresh local produce, said 42-year-old vendor Manop Surapongvanishkul.
"When he was preparing for his televised cooking show, sometimes he phoned my elder sister, asking for recipes for desserts," said the vendor, who owns a stall selling traditional Thai desserts in the market.
Mr Manop and his family also have a business supplying desserts to 80 hotels nationwide and three airlines.
"We know Mr Samak is a culinary expert, but I think he just wanted to be sure about his recipes by asking my sister," he said.
During his term as Bangkok governor several years ago, Mr Samak launched his TV cooking programme, something that did not go down well with many.
He was accused by some of spending more time on his culinary passions than on addressing the city's problems, such as its terrible traffic congestion.
Known by its Thai acronym Talat Or Tor Kor, the market has been popular with Bangkokians for decades.
For those who want to shop in a comparatively clean atmosphere or see a variety of traditional Thai foods and seasonal fruits, this market has all kinds of specialties, ranging from fresh to preserved food.
It is a paradise for those looking for high quality fresh food.
With Thai cuisine rapidly gaining in popularity around the world, Talat Or Tor Kor has also become a centre for exporters.
Goods are exported to international markets and restaurant chefs flock to the market each day to buy all the exotic ingredients used in Thai cooking.
The goods sold at the market also find their way into many kitchens, luxury restaurants and are served at five-star hotels.
Day in and day out, from about 6am to about 6pm, the market is crowded with hundreds of vendors and shoppers, who mostly arrive in private vehicles, turning this fresh food paradise and the road in front of it into a motorists' hell as the market does not offer visitors adequate parking.
"There has been no investment to improve services here for a long time. All the authorities do is raise the rent to unreasonable rates," said Moo Nakchan, a 52-year-old who has been selling fruit at a stall in the market for more than 20 years.
She is joining 200 other vendors who have filed a lawsuit against the Marketing Organisation for Farmers after the rents were raised to what they described as an "unfair" amount. Their case is pending in the Administrative Court.
High rent is one of the reasons vendors give to explain why their prices are higher than those at other markets. In an attempt to solve the problem, Somsak Prisana-nantakul launched a policy to reduce rental fees at the market soon after he took over as agriculture minister.
The minister hopes that by dropping the rental fees the vendors will be able to reduce the prices of their goods.
But so far the minister's plan has not brought down prices.
As a result, many of the less affluent continue to shun Talat Or Tor Kor, which has become better known by its unpopular nickname of Talat Khon Ruay, or the market for the rich. source - Bangkok Post